Federal Judge Rules Arkansas Ten Commandments Law Unconstitutional

FAYETTEVILLE, AR. - A federal court in Arkansas has struck down a state law that required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. On Monday, a judge declared the law unconstitutional, stating it violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The ruling means that Arkansas Act 573, passed in 2025, cannot be enforced. This law had mandated that both the Ten Commandments and the phrase "In God We Trust" be displayed in every public school classroom across the state.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy L. Brooks, who issued the latest decision, had previously put a temporary halt on the law in six school districts after parents filed a lawsuit. His recent order makes that ban permanent, preventing any state officials or school employees from enforcing or following Act 573.

Judge Brooks pointed out that this isn't a new issue. He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a very similar Ten Commandments law 45 years ago. He was referring to the 1980 case Stone v. Graham, where the Supreme Court ruled that requiring the display of the Ten Commandments was unconstitutional.

He also quoted a line from the 1962 Engel v. Vitale Supreme Court decision, which stated that "a union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion." This earlier ruling established that public schools cannot hold prayers, even if they are voluntary or not tied to a specific religion.

Following the court's decision, a spokesperson for Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced that the state is reviewing the opinion and plans to appeal the ruling.