In a recent press conference, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and Governor Jeff Landry announced their plans to seek the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the state’s new requirement for public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. This legal mandate, signed into law by Governor Landry on June 19, represents a notable precedent as Louisiana became the first US state to enforce such a measure. However, it swiftly met opposition from parents and civil rights organizations, who filed a lawsuit on July 1, claiming the requirement violated the First Amendment. They followed up with a motion for a preliminary injunction on July 9 to halt the mandate until the legal proceedings conclude.
During the announcement, AG Murrill argued that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the law’s universal unconstitutionality, underscoring the Ten Commandments’ historical and educational significance. Governor Landry highlighted the allegedly contradictory stance of declaring the bill unconstitutional while federal buildings like the Supreme Court display the Ten Commandments. In a democracy, he asserted, the majority’s decision must prevail.
AG Murrill mentioned that response briefs to the preliminary injunction would be available on her office’s website later in the day. Should the court dismiss the case, the display requirement would become mandatory by January 1, 2025. For further details, the initial announcement can be read on JURIST.