A federal judge has temporarily blocked Arkansas districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms under a new state law, citing violations of religious freedom and parental rights. The injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks, impacts four northwest Arkansas districts and stems from a lawsuit filed by multi-faith families and civil rights groups. The ruling highlights ongoing legal challenges to similar laws in Texas and Louisiana, where similar mandates are also being contested.
The law was signed earlier this year by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and requires the Ten Commandments to be prominently displayed in public school classrooms and libraries. The families and organizations filing the lawsuit argue that the requirement infringes on the constitutional right of parents to direct their children’s education and pressures students into a specific religious observance. The American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation are among the groups representing the plaintiffs in this case.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued the injunction after reviewing the plaintiffs’ argument that the law is not neutral with respect to religion. In his 35-page ruling, Brooks questioned the motivation behind the law, suggesting it is part of a coordinated strategy among several states to promote Christian religious doctrine in public schools. He noted that the specific version of the Ten Commandments mandated by the law is associated with Protestantism and excludes other faiths, further fueling the argument that the law is unconstitutional.
Attorney General Tim Griffin, whose office defended the law, is currently reviewing the decision and exploring legal options to challenge the injunction. The lawsuit named four school districts in northwest Arkansas — Fayetteville, Bentonville, Siloam Springs, and Springdale — as defendants, indicating that the legal battle is localized but significant. The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the implementation of the law while the lawsuit is ongoing, emphasizing the potential impact on students and the broader community.
Similar requirements in Texas and Louisiana are also facing legal challenges. A group of families and faith leaders filed a lawsuit against Texas’ law immediately after its enactment, raising concerns about religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In Louisiana, the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, a panel of three appellate judges recently ruled that the law is unconstitutional, suggesting a possible trend in the judiciary’s approach to such mandates.
The ruling by Judge Brooks has sparked discussions about the role of religion in public education and the extent to which states can impose religious symbols in schools. Civil rights advocates are hopeful that the broader implications of this case will lead to a reevaluation of such laws across the country, ensuring that all students and educators are treated equally and that public schools remain secular spaces of learning.