Lawyers representing the state of Louisiana have filed an emergency appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to halt a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles. The judge's decision declared a state law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms as unconstitutional. The ruling ordered education officials to inform all 72 local school boards in the state of this determination.
The state plans to appeal the entirety of Judge deGravelles' order but is specifically challenging the directive to notify all school boards. State attorneys argue that the judge exceeded his authority by requiring notification to all districts when only five are named as defendants in the legal challenge. The districts involved are located in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Tammany, Orleans, and Vernon parishes.
In addition to the school districts, Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley and the state education board are also defendants in the lawsuit. They were instructed by the judge not to implement the law. The state contends that since they lack supervisory power over local school boards, the order should only apply to the five districts directly involved in the case.
The law in question was passed earlier this year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Governor Jeff Landry. Judge deGravelles' ruling stated that the law's primary purpose is religious and therefore violates the constitution. State officials had argued that the historical significance of the Ten Commandments justified its display, but the judge rejected this reasoning, noting that no other foundational documents are mandated to be posted in schools.
Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill, a political ally of Governor Landry, expressed the state's disagreement with Judge deGravelles' decision.
