U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia ordered 12 Texas school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays from classrooms by December, finding the state law mandating the displays violates the constitutional ban on laws "respecting an establishment of religion." The injunction contributes to a nationwide dispute that has seen similar legal setbacks in Louisiana and an Oklahoma reversal of a Bible directive. The ACLU hailed the decision as a defense of religious liberty, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suits against other districts refusing to comply.
Judge Orders 12 Texas School Districts to Remove Ten Commandments Displays, Citing Constitution
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia ordered 12 Texas school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays from classrooms by December, finding the state law mandating the displays violates the constitutional ban on laws "respecting an establishment of religion." The injunction contributes to a nationwide dispute that has seen similar legal setbacks in Louisiana and an Oklahoma reversal of a Bible directive. The ACLU hailed the decision as a defense of religious liberty, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suits against other districts refusing to comply.
05:09 AM, 11/20/2025Politics
By Julia Harte (additional reporting by Evan Garcia)
A federal judge has ordered a dozen Texas public school districts to remove classroom displays of the Ten Commandments by December, ruling that a state law requiring such postings violates the U.S. Constitution.
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia found that the Texas statute conflicts with the constitutional prohibition on laws "respecting an establishment of religion," and issued an injunction on Tuesday requiring the removal of the displays in the 12 named districts.
What the ruling means
The injunction reinforces a broader legal debate over whether states may compel public schools to prominently display religious texts. Supporters of such mandates argue they reflect historical and moral heritage, while opponents say they amount to government endorsement of a particular faith.
Responses and reactions
Spokespeople for Conroe and Flour Bluff Independent School Districts in southeast Texas said they would follow applicable law; Conroe specifically said it would comply with Judge Garcia’s order. Other districts named in the lawsuit did not respond to requests for comment.
An ACLU attorney representing parents who challenged the law called Garcia’s injunction "a victory for religious liberty and a reminder that government officials shouldn’t show favoritism toward any faith."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, however, filed suits on Tuesday against two additional school districts that had refused to post the Ten Commandments, accusing them of disregarding "the will of Texas voters who expect the legal and moral heritage of our state to be displayed in accordance with the law."
Broader context
The ruling follows similar developments in other states. In June, a federal appeals court blocked enforcement of a Louisiana law that required Ten Commandments displays in classrooms and university lecture halls; that same appeals court is scheduled to rehear the Louisiana case in January, which may affect challenges to the Texas law. In October, Oklahoma’s education department withdrew a 2024 directive that had required Christian Bibles in classrooms after legal challenges led the state supreme court to suspend the mandate.
The dispute is part of an ongoing national conversation about the separation of church and state, how religious expression is treated in public institutions, and the role of state-level laws in public education.
Reporting by Julia Harte; additional reporting by Evan Garcia.