Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits in state court against Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, alleging that both districts refused to place Ten Commandments displays in classrooms as required under a 2023 state law.
Paxton’s office said both districts received offers of privately donated framed copies of the Ten Commandments that, according to the state, matched all legal specifications for content, size, and format.
According to legal filings, Round Rock ISD confirmed its refusal in a September 15 email from district counsel to representatives of the attorney general. The lawsuits state that both Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD declined to post the donated materials, which the attorney general argues violates the statute directing public schools to display the document.
Paxton said in a written statement that the districts and their trustees ignored a clear legal requirement approved through legislative action. He said Texas residents expect public institutions to follow state laws, and his office will seek court orders to mandate compliance.
According to the attorney general, the law requires public schools to accept qualifying private donations of framed Ten Commandments copies and place them in classrooms according to statutory rules.
Court filings from Paxton’s office state that the law remains in effect for Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, and no court has issued an order that removes their obligation to comply. A separate federal court temporarily blocked enforcement for 11 other districts involved in a different case, but that injunction does not include Round Rock ISD or Leander ISD.
Paxton’s office said that, because these two districts are not part of the federal lawsuit and are not mentioned in the federal injunction, the state continues to view them as fully responsible for meeting the display requirement.
