United States: Texas authorized to impose the display of the Ten Commandments in schools

A federal appeals court in America ruled on Tuesday, April 21, that the state of Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments from the Bible, a victory for conservative Christians.

The state had passed a law in June 2025 mandating public schools to display these biblical principles “in a prominent location in the classroom”. Texas school officials, several families, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had challenged this law in court, arguing that religious beliefs were the responsibility of parents and religious communities, not public schools.

In November, a federal judge initially ordered the removal of these texts. This injunction was now overturned by the federal appeals court in New Orleans.

The court in its decision stated that the requirement to display this text does not constitute “an infringement on the conscience of students or Texan parents” and that the plaintiffs “have not shown that (the law) constitutes a substantial violation of their right to freedom of worship.”

A precedent-setting decision

The appeals court also determined that the law does not violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of a national religion and favoring one religion over another. This decision could set a precedent that might encourage other states to impose similar measures.

However, the ACLU stated its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court. “We are extremely disappointed by today’s ruling. The court’s decision goes against the fundamental principles of the First Amendment and the binding jurisprudence of the U.S. Supreme Court,” the ACLU said in a statement.

Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the appeals court decision. “The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it is important for students to learn from them every day,” he wrote on X.

The appeals decision noted that “countless public schools – including those in Texas – already begin the day by reciting a pledge that leads students to say “a nation united under the authority of God.”