A federal judge in Texas has issued a temporary ruling blocking a state law that would have required public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, The Associated Press reported.
The decision, handed down by US District Judge Fred Biery on Wednesday, marks a significant setback for the law's supporters and a major victory for civil liberties groups who argued the measure violates the separation of church and state.
The law, which was set to take effect on September 1, mandated that public school districts in Houston, Austin, and other selected areas post the biblical text. This is the third time a US court has blocked similar laws in recent months.
In his 55-page ruling, Judge Biery was unequivocal in his assessment. The ruling begins by quoting the First Amendment and ends with "Amen," and it directly challenges the notion that the displays would not constitute a form of religious instruction.
"Even though the Ten Commandments would not be affirmatively taught, the captive audience of students likely would have questions, which teachers would feel compelled to answer. That is what they do," Biery wrote. He also cited the pressure the displays would place on children from families challenging the law, forcing them to adopt the state's preferred religion or suppress their own beliefs. The judge clarified that there are ways to teach the historical context of the Ten Commandments without placing them in every classroom.
The lawsuit was brought by a diverse group of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, and non-religious families with children in the affected school districts. They were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has already vowed to appeal the "flawed" ruling. He defended the law in a statement, saying, "The Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of our moral and legal heritage, and their presence in classrooms serves as a reminder of the values that guide responsible citizenship."
Texas is the largest state to attempt such a requirement. The ruling is the latest development in a legal battle that is expected to ultimately go before the US Supreme Court. Biery cited similar legal defeats for Ten Commandments laws in both Louisiana and Arkansas, with a federal appeals court already blocking the law in Louisiana.