Advocates Seek Supreme Court Review of Ten Commandments School Laws in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas

State laws mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas have faced repeated legal defeats on First Amendment grounds. However, supporters remain optimistic that the Supreme Court will ultimately uphold these laws, relying on the newly adopted history-and-tradition test rather than the previously used Lemon test. This shift in legal framework follows the Supreme Court's 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District ruling, which favored a public school coach's right to pray, indicating a potential change in how religious expression in schools is evaluated. Advocates, such as Matt Krause of the First Liberty Institute, argue that the Supreme Court has yet to fully flesh out the history-and-tradition test and see the Ten Commandments cases as an opportunity for the justices to clarify the law. Despite ongoing setbacks in lower courts, including conservative ones, supporters are actively seeking Supreme Court review, confident the high court's evolving approach will be more favorable to their cause. The outcome could significantly impact the role of religious displays in public education nationwide.