Official court filings and announcements from the State of Louisiana

Federal Judge John W. deGravelles Rules Louisiana Law Mandating Ten Commandments in Schools Unconstitutional, Violating First Amendment

Nov 12, 2024, 03:07 PM

A federal judge has ruled that a Louisiana law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles stated that the law violates the First Amendment's establishment and free exercise clauses. This decision comes as a coalition of parents sought to block the implementation of the law, which was scheduled to take effect next year. The ruling reinforces the protection of religious rights and aligns with U.S. Supreme Court precedent regarding the separation of church and state.