A Louisiana law mandating that public school classrooms display posters of the Ten Commandments has been halted by a federal judge, who ruled that the law is "facially unconstitutional."
The law, H.B. 71, was signed in June. It requires public school classrooms—regardless of grade level or subject matter—to display large posters of the document at least 11 inches by 14 inches and in a "large, easily readable font." Supporters of the law argued that it didn't violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, claiming that the displays were intended to educate students on the historical impact of the Ten Commandments, rather than religiously indoctrinate them. The law also banned taxpayer funds from going to support the posters, instead requiring schools to accept donations.
