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A new requirement that Louisiana schools display the Ten Commandments by Jan. 1 was blocked by federal Judge John W. deGravelles on Tuesday, according to AP. DeGravelles ruled that the bill was “overtly religious” and violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion or blocking the free exercise of religion.
Parents of the school children filed the lawsuit arguing that the bill, signed by conservative Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, was unconstitutional. The plaintiffs also argued that the poster-sized requirement of 11 by 14 inches would isolate students, especially those who are not Christian.
DeGravelles ultimately agreed with the plaintiffs, calling Louisiana’s new law “unconstitutional on its face.” His ruling acknowledges a long-standing principle in American law: the separation of church and state that is stated in the First Amendment.
This is the same law that Gov. Jeff Landry said shortly before signing that he “can’t wait to be sued” over. Yes, that Gov. Landry, who also reportedly equated U.S. law with biblical law. “If you want to respect the rule of law, you’ve got to start from the original lawgiver, which was Moses,” he said.
