Montgomery, AL – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today that Alabama has joined an 18-state coalition supporting Louisiana’s recently passed law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The coalition, led by Kentucky, has filed a brief defending the law, which has been temporarily blocked by a federal district court.
The law, enacted in June after being signed by Governor Jeff Landry, mandates that all public K-12 schools and state-funded universities in Louisiana display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. In November, a federal judge issued an injunction preventing the law from taking effect, citing concerns over potential constitutional violations.
Proponents of the legislation argue that the Ten Commandments hold historical and cultural significance in the United States, serving as one of the foundations of the country’s legal system. The early legal code is represented in architectural depictions within the U.S. Supreme Court and other prominent federal buildings in Washington, D.C.
“It is hard to understand how one could argue that a renewed emphasis on this part of our nation’s heritage through the display of the Ten Commandments could be detrimental to our students,” Attorney General Marshall stated. “Our friends in Louisiana have made a strong statement, pointing to our country’s founding principles as we educate the next generation.”
The coalition joining Alabama and Kentucky includes attorneys general from Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. The coalition’s brief argues for the historical and educational value of displaying the Ten Commandments, emphasizing their role in shaping American jurisprudence.
The court’s final decision will likely influence future debates on the intersection of education, religion, and constitutional rights.
