Fifth Circuit Upholds Texas Law Mandating Ten Commandments in Classrooms
A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public-school classrooms, reopening a constitutional fight over religion in education.
The Fifth Circuit’s narrow decision overturns a previous federal injunction and allows Senate Bill 10 to move forward statewide, immediately raising new legal and political stakes.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the court found the law does not violate the First Amendment and does not amount to religious coercion. The 2025 law requires schools to post donated Ten Commandments displays in every classroom.
But the ruling sharply divided the court and triggered immediate backlash from civil liberties groups and multifaith families who filed the original lawsuits.
One key dispute centers on whether students are being exposed to a state-endorsed religious message in a setting they cannot avoid, with dissenting judges warning the decision conflicts with long-standing Supreme Court precedent.
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“Posting the Ten Commandments in public schools is un-American,” a plaintiff parent said in a statement reported by The Texas Tribune.
The outcome matters beyond Texas, as courts increasingly revisit the boundary between government and religion following recent Supreme Court decisions that shifted legal standards.
Supporters argue the displays reflect historical tradition, while critics say the ruling could open the door to broader religious mandates in public institutions.
The case is expected to advance to the U.S. Supreme Court, where a final ruling could redefine how the Constitution applies to religion in public schools nationwide.
For now, Texas classrooms are at the center of a growing national test.
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