Judge bars Arkansas school districts from displaying Ten Commandments in classrooms

A federal judge ruled Monday that several school districts in Arkansas cannot display the Ten Commandments in their public school classrooms, despite a state law that requires it.Arkansas is one of three states that require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Louisiana was the first state to require it, and supporters of the law have pointed to the text’s influence on United States history as a reason to allow it, but opponents claim it infringes on the First Amendment and parents’ control over the religious upbringing of their children.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks agreed with opponents in Arkansas that the law violated the Establishment Clause and the First Amendment, but did not make the order to a statewide ban.
“Act 573’s purpose is only to display a sacred, religious text in a prominent place in every public-school classroom,” the judge wrote. “The only reason to display a sacred, religious text in every classroom is to proselytize to children. The State has said the quiet part out loud.” 
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office told The Hill that it is “reviewing the opinion and will appeal.” 
If the state does appeal the ruling, the case could extend all the way to the Supreme Court if the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Brooks’ ruling, because last month the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Louisiana’s state law requiring the Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

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