A new lawsuit has been filed challenging a Louisiana law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, arguing it violates constitutional principles of religious freedom. The complaint was lodged by several parents and religious leaders, including Reverend Darcy Roake and Adrian Van Young, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on June 24, 2024, against Cade Brumley, the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, and other state education officials.
The plaintiffs argue that House Bill No. 71 (H.B. 71), which requires public schools to post a state-approved version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, infringes upon their First Amendment rights. The law's stipulations include displaying commandments such as "I AM the LORD thy God" and "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," which plaintiffs claim unconstitutionally impose religious beliefs on students. "This simply cannot be reconciled with the fundamental religious-freedom principles that animated the founding of our nation," states the complaint.
The lawsuit emphasizes that there is no historical precedent for permanently displaying the Ten Commandments in public-school classrooms in either Louisiana or across the United States. Citing Stone v. Graham (1980), where a similar Kentucky law was struck down by the Supreme Court, plaintiffs argue that H.B. 71 directly contradicts established legal precedents forbidding such displays under the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
Plaintiffs seek both declaratory and injunctive relief from the court to prevent enforcement of H.B. 71. They request a judgment declaring H.B. 71 unconstitutional and an injunction to stop its implementation and any related regulations or displays mandated by it. The complaint highlights concerns over religious coercion, stating that students who do not subscribe to this specific version of religious scripture will feel pressured into observance and may face exclusion within their school communities.
Representing diverse faith backgrounds—including Unitarian Universalist, Presbyterian Christian, Reform Jewish traditions, as well as non-religious households—the plaintiffs detail how H.B. 71 disrupts their ability to guide their children's spiritual development according to their own beliefs. For instance, Reverend Mamie Broadhurst and Reverend Richard Williams emphasize that scriptural matters are too sacred for government interference and should be reserved for faith communities.
The case is being overseen by Judge John W. deGravelles with Civil Action No. 3:24-cv-517-JWD-SDJ.