By Jonathan Stempel
(Reuters) -A Federal Court of Appeals will reconsider your recent decision declaring “clearly unconstitutional” a Louisian law that requires the exhibition of the ten commandments in all classrooms of the State Schools and Universities of the State.
In a brief order, the 5th Court of Appeals of the United States Circuit in New Orleans said that its 17 active judges will sit “in Banc” to review the June 20 decision of a unanimous panel of three judges.
That decision was a victory for the parents and students who said that Louisiana violated their religious rights of the first amendment, and a defeat for Republicans and conservative groups that wanted the expressions of faith to be more prominent in society.
In a joint statement, the ACLU and other groups that represent the opponents of the law said that they are still sure that the principles underlying the first amendment, “which guarantees religious freedom for all students and families, will prevail at the end.”
The spokeswoman for the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, and the attorney general of Louisiana, Liz Murrill, both Republicans, did not immediately respond to the requests for comments.
The 5th circuit is widely considered among the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, although the Democratic presidents appointed two of the three judges who attacked the Louisian law.
Monday’s order put that decision aside. Oral arguments have not been programmed.
The law of families said he violated the first amendment
Louisiana’s law required the exhibition of posters or framed versions of the ten commandments in K-12 schools and the State financed by the State.
The screens should be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, the “central approach” being printed in a large and easy to read source.
Nine families, including the clergy, with children in demanded public schools, saying that the law violated the constitutional prohibition against the state establishment of religion.
The law has not entered into force, after being blocked last November by a judge of the lower court.
Louisiana became the first state of the United States.
Arkansas and Texas approved their own laws in 2025 that require similar screens, which caused demands.
When looking for a review in Ban, Louisiana and the defendants of the School Board said that the panel of the Court of Appeals entrusted by mistake in a precedent of the Abandoned Supreme Court.
They also said that the panel misplaced the decision of that 2022 court favoring a Washington high school soccer coach who prayed with players in the 50 -yard line after the games.
The case is Roake et al V Brumley et al, 5th Court of Appeals of the United States Circuit, No. 24-30706.
(Jonathan Stempel report in New York; Christopher Cushing’s edition)
(Tagstotranslate) Federal Appeals Court (T) Louisian Law (T) Louisiana