Louisiana federal judge delays posting Ten Commandments in some schools until ruling

A Louisiana federal judge has said five school systems will have to wait to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms until at least Nov. 15 as the case questioning the constitutionality of the state’s new law begins in Middle District Court in Baton Rouge.

This summer, Louisiana became the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be posted in every public school and university classroom by Jan. 1, 2025.

U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles’s order said he will set a hearing Sept. 30 with a ruling expected by mid-November.

The ruling technically impacts only East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Orleans, St. Tammany and Vernon parishes, where parents and civil rights groups sued to block the new law, but the Louisiana Department of Education agreed not to issue its advice, rules and regulations on implementation before Nov. 15.

A spokesman for Republican Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill insisted the law that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025 isn’t stalled unless the court rules otherwise.

“Specifically, the five defendant school boards and the defendant individuals agreed not to post the Ten Commandments in public schools or promulgate related advice, rules or regulations before Nov. 15,” said Lester Duhe’, a spokesman for Murrill, said in a statement. “But they and all other Louisiana schools remain subject to the law and its January 2025 compliance deadline. So once again — the law is not paused, blocked or halted.”

Louisiana’s new law, drafted by Republican Haughton state Rep. Dodie Horton and signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, requires the Ten Commandments be displayed on posters at least 11 by 14 inches with “large, easily readable font.”

The new law has drawn intense national interest and attention, including from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who voiced his support last month both on a social media post and during a campaign speech.

“Has anyone read the ‘Thou shalt not steal’? I mean, has anybody read this incredible stuff? It’s just incredible,” Trump said during a speech at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference. “They don’t want it to go up. It’s a crazy world.’’

Horton said the displays aren’t advocating for any specific religion, even though they are a key tenet in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.

“The Ten Commandments are the plumb line on which all our laws are based,” Horton said in a previous interview with USA Today Network.

But others, including those who have sued to block the law, don’t believe it will stand up in court.

“The law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional,” The American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a news release.

More: Trump touts Louisiana Ten Commandments law courting Christian voters ahead of Biden debate

Greg Hilburn covers Louisiana politics for the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.