Federal Appeals Court Upholds Texas Law Requiring Ten Commandments Posters In Classrooms
A federal appeals court has upheld a Texas law requiring Ten Commandments posters in public school classrooms. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the law does not violate the First Amendment. The statute, Senate Bill 10, was enacted in June 2025 and took effect on Sept. 1. It requires each public elementary and secondary classroom to display a durable Ten Commandments poster or framed copy at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.
In its opinion the court said the law imposes no religious exercise and does not coerce students to recite or affirm the Commandments. Plaintiffs had argued children would be forced to "observe and venerate" a state-mandated version of the text, a claim the court rejected. Roughly two dozen Texas school districts were previously blocked by injunctions, though others posted the displays after the law took effect. Earlier this year the 5th Circuit voted 12-6 en banc to lift a lower-court block on a similar Louisiana law.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling a "major victory" while the American Civil Liberties Union said it violates core First Amendment principles. Social media posts and statements from bill author Sen. Phil King praised the decision and emphasized the Ten Commandments' influence on Western and American legal codes. Early coverage focused on lower-court injunctions and legal challenges, but newer reporting from PBS and CBS added the appeals court's constitutional reasoning and the statute's technical posting rules, framing the combined Texas and Louisiana rulings as likely to prompt a future clash at the U.S. Supreme Court.
📌 Key Facts
- A federal appeals court (the 5th Circuit) explicitly held that Texas Senate Bill 10 does not violate the First Amendment, upholding the law that requires Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms.
- S.B. 10, enacted in June 2025 and effective Sept. 1, requires each public elementary and secondary classroom to display a durable Ten Commandments poster or framed copy meeting statutory specs (at least 16 inches by 20 inches, easily readable typeface, and conspicuous placement); some districts posted the displays after the law took effect while roughly two dozen districts remained barred by injunctions.
- The 5th Circuit opinion reasoned that S.B. 10 does not constitute a government establishment of religion or coercive indoctrination — finding the law requires no religious exercise or observance, that students are not taught, required to recite, or pressured to affirm the Commandments, and rejecting plaintiffs’ claim that children are forced to 'observe and venerate' a state‑mandated version.
- Coverage quoted extended passages from the 5th Circuit opinion explaining why the court concluded the law is constitutional under its reading of precedent.
- Earlier this year the same appeals court went en banc and voted 12–6 to lift a lower‑court block on a similar Louisiana classroom Ten Commandments law; the combined Texas and Louisiana rulings set up a likely future clash at the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Reactions were sharply divided: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the bill’s author, Sen. Phil King, celebrated the decision as a major victory for Texas and for the historical influence of the Commandments, while the ACLU and allied groups called the ruling a violation of fundamental First Amendment principles and contrary to binding Supreme Court precedent.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the case involves Texas Senate Bill 10, enacted in June 2025, requiring each public elementary and secondary classroom to display a durable Ten Commandments poster or framed copy.
- Details statutory requirements for the display, including minimum dimensions of at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, easily readable typeface, and conspicuous placement.
- Quotes extended passages from the 5th Circuit opinion explaining why S.B. 10 does not, in the court's view, constitute an establishment of religion or coercive indoctrination.
- Clarifies that the court found S.B. 10 requires no religious exercise or observance and that students are not taught, required to recite, or pressured to affirm the Commandments.
- Provides the plaintiffs' argument that children are forced to 'observe and venerate' a state-mandated version of the Ten Commandments and the court's specific rejection of that claim.
- Reports the ACLU's post-ruling statement calling the decision a violation of fundamental First Amendment principles and contrary to binding Supreme Court precedent.
- Includes public comments from bill author Sen. Phil King, who frames the decision as a 'great day' for Texas and emphasizes the Ten Commandments' influence on Western and American legal codes.
- Clarifies that the 5th Circuit explicitly held the Texas Ten Commandments classroom display law does not violate the First Amendment.
- Reports a 12-6 en banc vote earlier this year by the same appeals court to lift a lower-court block on a similar Louisiana classroom Ten Commandments law.
- Notes that roughly two dozen Texas school districts had been barred by injunctions but others already posted the Ten Commandments after the law took effect on Sept. 1.
- Includes fresh reaction quotes from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrating a 'major victory' and from ACLU-allied groups calling the ruling contrary to Supreme Court precedent.
- Frames the combined Texas and Louisiana cases as setting up a likely future clash at the U.S. Supreme Court over classroom Ten Commandments displays.