A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Louisiana law that would have required public schools statewide to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms by Jan. 1. U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles of Baton Rouge, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled Tuesday that the law violates the free exercise and establishment clauses of the First Amendment. The ruling found the Louisiana law was "unconstitutional on its face and in every application," prohibited Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and defendants in this case from enforcing the mandate, and required them to notify public schools of the change. The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday alleged the judge’s ruling only applies to the five school districts in the state named in the lawsuit — East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, Livingston Parish Schools, St. Tammany Parish Schools, Orleans Parish Schools and Vernon Parish Schools. And in a statement provided to CBS News, Murrill said that "we strongly disagree with the court’s decision and will immediately appeal, as HB 71’s implementation deadline is approaching on January 1, 2025." Tuesday’s decision came alongside a preliminary injunction issued in a lawsuit brought by parents of Louisiana public school students, who are […]

By : Markus McDowell