Official court ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Kentucky Leads 18 States in Supporting Louisiana's Ten Commandments Law in Public Schools Amid Court Challenges

Dec 18, 2024, 08:33 PM

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, leading a coalition of 18 states, has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Louisiana's law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The law, passed in June, mandates that the Ten Commandments be displayed in 'large, easily readable font' in every classroom. Despite facing multiple court challenges, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the law to go into effect in certain areas not involved in the legal challenge, while keeping a preliminary injunction active for the plaintiffs' school districts. The coalition, which includes states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia, argues that the Fifth Circuit should consider historical context when determining the constitutionality of the law. The brief emphasizes the historical influence of the Ten Commandments on American public education and law, and supports the law's implementation statewide, citing the inclusion of a three-paragraph 'context statement' in the displays.