A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Friday that public‑school classrooms in Louisiana may display the Ten Commandments as part of a history‑of‑law lesson, overturning a lower‑court order that had required their removal.

The case began when the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sued after the state education department approved a pilot program that placed framed Ten Commandments in ninth‑grade civics classrooms in two parishes. A federal district court in 2023 issued a preliminary injunction, finding the displays likely violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The Fifth Circuit heard the appeal and issued its decision on Feb. 23, 2026.

What the Right Is Saying

Governor Jeff Landry praised the decision, saying it respects the historical role of the Ten Commandments in shaping Western legal tradition. In a statement, Landry said, "Parents and teachers should be free to teach the moral foundations that have guided our nation without fear of litigation."

The Louisiana Family Forum, a conservative advocacy group, argued that the displays are part of a broader educational effort to teach students about the origins of American law. The group’s director, Tom Daniels, noted, "Removing the Ten Commandments erases an essential part of our legal heritage and infringes on religious liberty."

What the Left Is Saying

The ACLU of Louisiana said the ruling ignores longstanding Supreme Court precedent that government‑sponsored religious displays in public schools breach the Establishment Clause, citing the 1962 Engel v. Vitale decision. ACLU attorney Maya Patel stated, "This decision opens the door for further erosion of church‑state separation in public education."

Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana added that the court’s interpretation runs contrary to the intent of the Constitution, arguing that the displays amount to an endorsement of a particular faith and could alienate students of diverse religious backgrounds.

What the Numbers Show

Polling by Pew Research in 2024 found that 62% of Americans support teaching the Ten Commandments in public schools, while 28% oppose it. The pilot program currently involves 12 classrooms across two parishes, affecting approximately 1,200 students. Federal litigation costs for the district court injunction were estimated at $250,000, according to court filings.

The Bottom Line

The Fifth Circuit’s ruling allows the pilot program to proceed while the underlying constitutional question remains unresolved. Both civil‑rights groups and religious‑freedom advocates have signaled intentions to seek further review, potentially bringing the case before the Supreme Court. The decision highlights the ongoing legal debate over the balance between historical education and the Establishment Clause.