US judge declares Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law unconstitutional

A federal judge on Tuesday declared unconstitutional a Louisiana law requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms in the Southern state.

U.S. District Judge John deGravelles said the law conflicted with a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision voiding a similar law in Kentucky, and violated the religious rights of people who opposed the displays.

He also called the law “discriminatory and coercive,” saying Louisiana expects children to attend school at least 177 days per year, and the displays would pressure them into adopting the state’s preferred religious teachings.