Judge Orders Arlington, Fort Worth Schools to Remove Ten Commandments Displays
A recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia has led to the removal of Ten Commandments displays from several Texas school districts. This decision came after a lawsuit was filed by families who assert that these displays violate the First Amendment’s prohibition against government-endorsed religion.
Judge Orders Removal of Ten Commandments Displays
Details of the Lawsuit
- The lawsuit was initiated in September 2023.
- The plaintiffs argue that Senate Bill 10, which mandates the display of the Ten Commandments, infringes upon constitutional rights.
- Prior to this ruling, an August decision labeled the law as “plainly unconstitutional” and temporarily barred it in several districts.
Chloe Kempf, an attorney representing the ACLU of Texas, emphasized that the ruling reinforces the belief that instilling religious values should be the responsibility of families and communities, not government entities. She indicated that all districts in Texas need to be aware that enforcing S.B. 10 could breach students’ rights.
Impacted School Districts
The following school districts are specifically ordered to remove the Ten Commandments displays:
- Alamo Heights ISD
- Arlington ISD
- Austin ISD
- Azle ISD
- Comal ISD
- Conroe ISD
- Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
- Dripping Springs ISD
- Flour Bluff ISD
- Fort Bend ISD
- Fort Worth ISD
- Frisco ISD
- Georgetown ISD
- Houston ISD
- Lake Travis ISD
- Lackland ISD
- Lovejoy ISD
- Mansfield ISD
- McAllen ISD
- McKinney ISD
- North East ISD
- Northwest ISD
- Northside ISD
- Plano ISD
- Rockwall ISD
Broader Implications
The ruling in Texas aligns with similar legal actions in other states, including Louisiana and Arkansas, where courts have blocked similar laws. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a proponent of S.B. 10, has appealed earlier decisions regarding the law’s constitutionality. He also supports S.B. 11, which permits voluntary prayer and the reading of religious texts in schools.
The ramifications of Judge Garcia’s decision are significant, as advocates urge all Texas school districts to reconsider their stance on the display of religious texts to uphold constitutional rights.
