Federal Appeals Court Upholds Texas Law Allowing Ten Commandments In Public School Classrooms
A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas may require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, marking a significant legal win for advocates of greater religious expression in education.
In a closely divided 9–8 decision, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law, which has drawn national attention and is seen as a potential boost to similar efforts in states like Arkansas and Louisiana.
Supporters of the policy have long argued that the Ten Commandments are a foundational moral document with historical relevance to American civic life. Opponents, however, contend that placing them in public school classrooms crosses a constitutional line by promoting religious belief and effectively pressuring students toward a specific worldview.
The court’s majority disagreed with those concerns, concluding that the law does not compel students to adopt or affirm any religious beliefs. In its reasoning, the court emphasized that students are not required to recite, accept, or treat the commandments as divinely authoritative.
“No child is required to recite, believe, or affirm the commandments,” the court stated in its ruling, underscoring its view that the display alone does not amount to unconstitutional coercion.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented parents challenging the law, said it plans to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
