A federal judge has temporarily blocked several Texas school districts from enforcing a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery’s Aug. 20 ruling came less than two weeks before the Texas law, known as SB10, is set to go into effect on Sept. 1. The Texas attorney general has vowed to appeal.
The plaintiffs, a group of both religious and nonreligious families represented by organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, sued an array of school districts in July, saying the law violated the First Amendment.
Biery concurred, writing that the law favors Christian denominations over other traditions and is “likely to burden Plaintiffs’ exercise of their sincere religious or nonreligious beliefs in substantial ways.”
He further said that the law would interfere with parents’ rights to guide their children’s upbringing and is “likely to send an exclusionary and spiritually burdensome message” to children whose religious beliefs do not conform to the particular Judeo-Christian version of scripture required for the displays.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office is representing the school districts, said he “will absolutely be appealing this flawed decision.”
“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,” Paxton said.
He said Texas “will always defend our right to uphold the foundational principles that have built this nation.”
The plaintiffs welcomed the ruling, with leaders from the ACLU of Texas calling it a “major win” and Americans United for Separation of Church and State saying Biery’s ruling sends a “strong and resounding message across the country that the government respects the religious freedom of every student in our public schools.”
“Children’s religious beliefs should be instilled by parents and faith communities, not politicians and public schools,” said Rabbi Mara Nathan, a plaintiff who is both a religious leader and public school parent.
The ruling came weeks after a Louisiana judge blocked several school districts from implementing a similar law, calling it “plainly unconstitutional.”
BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at bjfrank@usatoday.com.
USA TODAY’s coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Federal judge blocks Texas schools from displaying 10 Commandments
