A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday ordered 14 public school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays from classrooms with a deadline of Dec. 1, after ruling that a state law requiring the displays likely violates the First Amendment.
The injunction temporarily blocks enforcement of Senate Bill 1515 while a lawsuit from 15 families proceeds.
The order applies to districts that had begun displaying or preparing to display the Ten Commandments under the 2023 law, which required every public school classroom in Texas to post a copy of the biblical text. The judge directed the affected districts to take down existing displays and halt plans for new ones.
The case started in September when families with children in Texas public schools filed a federal lawsuit, arguing the law violated the Establishment Clause by promoting a specific religious text in classrooms.
The lawsuit names state officials responsible for enforcing education policy and compliance with the law. The judge found the families demonstrated a likelihood of success on their claim that the law amounted to government endorsement of religion, noting that mandatory classroom displays place religious messaging in front of captive student audiences.
The injunction prohibits the 14 school districts from purchasing, accepting, or installing additional Ten Commandments displays while the order remains in effect. It does not dismiss the lawsuit or make a final determination on the law’s constitutionality.
Texas authorities may appeal the injunction to a higher federal court or seek modification.