Fifth Circuit Upholds Texas Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has upheld a Texas law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public-school classroom across the state, ruling in favor of Senate Bill 10 despite ongoing legal challenges over its constitutionality.
The decision, issued on April 21, 2026, affirms that Texas can mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, a move supporters say reinforces moral and historical foundations in education. The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in May 2025, requires each classroom to display a poster measuring at least 16 by 20 inches containing only the text of the Ten Commandments as specified in the bill, with no additional materials permitted.
Opponents, including a coalition of multifaith Texas families represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, argue the mandate violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by promoting religion in public schools. The plaintiffs in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District contend the ruling disregards binding Supreme Court precedent on the separation of church and state.
The organizations criticized the court’s decision, stating it “tramples” fundamental rights and expressed intent to seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court. They emphasized that the law removes parental discretion over religious instruction and imposes a specific religious viewpoint in taxpayer-funded classrooms.
Supporters of the bill, including Republican legislators who sponsored and advanced the measure, maintain that the Ten Commandments represent a foundational moral code integral to civic education. During legislative debates, proponents argued the display reflects historical and ethical traditions rather than endorsing a specific denomination.
The law faced early scrutiny when a similar statute in Louisiana was struck down by a federal court on constitutional grounds. Despite this, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 10 with votes of 28-3 in the Senate and 82-46 in the House, with lawmakers noting the state would cover legal costs if districts were sued over compliance.
As of the ruling, the mandate remains in effect for all Texas public school classrooms, setting the stage for a potential Supreme Court confrontation over the limits of religious expression in public education.