Louisiana Ten Commandments law defended by AG in federal appeals court

Keymonte Avery
·2 min read
1

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed an opening brief to defend Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Murrill shared on social media, “We filed our opening brief in the Fifth Circuit defending Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law. As we have illustrated in our briefs, there are numerous ways for our schools to constitutionally implement the law. And this should not be controversial: As the Supreme Court has said, the Commandments have historical significance as one of the foundations of our law. We look forward to the Fifth Circuit’s decision in this case.”

In the brief, the state argued that the case “is not ripe,” noting that no Ten Commandments displays have been posted and that further analysis is required for cases involving the Commandments. The state also contended that the lawsuit “has no basis in law and is directly contrary to basic Article III precedents.”

Oral arguments are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

Timeline of Ten Commandments Law

Timeline of Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law:

  • June 19, 2024: A bill requiring public schools and universities to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was passed during the 2024 Regular Legislative Session.

  • June 24, 2024: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit claiming the law violated students’ First Amendment rights. Some religious leaders and activists also voiced opposition to the law.

  • Aug. 5, 2024: Murrill called for the lawsuit to be dismissed, arguing it was premature and that the plaintiffs could not demonstrate actual harm.

  • July 19, 2024: Louisiana agreed to pause implementation of the law until a hearing could be held, initially scheduled for Nov. 15.

  • Oct. 21, 2024: A hearing debated whether the law should go into effect while its constitutionality is litigated. The preliminary injunction allowed arguments on both sides regarding the posting of the Commandments.

  • Nov. 21, 2024: A federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional, prohibiting the display of the Ten Commandments in schools.

ADVERTISEMENT

The case remains a contentious issue as it progresses through the appeals process, with broader implications for church-state separation in Louisiana and beyond.

Latest News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.