Texas – A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas may require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, marking a major legal victory for state leaders and supporters of expanded religious presence in education.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued a 9–8 decision on April 21, 2026, overturning a lower court ruling that had blocked the law. The decision allows the state to enforce a 2025 law requiring donated copies of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom.
The court ruled that the mandate does not violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, stating that the law does not require religious practice or belief and does not compel students to recite or adopt the commandments.
Supporters of the law, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, praised the ruling as a win for moral values and education. Paxton and other state officials argued that the Ten Commandments reflect historical influences on the nation’s legal system.
Opponents, including civil liberties organizations, argued that the law crosses the line between church and state by placing a religious text in a mandatory classroom setting. They said they plan to continue challenging the decision, including a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups that challenged the Texas law on behalf of parents said in a statement that they anticipate appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ruling also comes amid broader debates in several states, including Arkansas and Louisiana, over similar legislation seeking to expand religious displays in public schools.
Legal experts say the case could set up a major constitutional battle at the nation’s highest court over the limits of religious expression in public education.
