Multifaith Texas Families Condemn 5th Circuit Decision Upholding Mandatory Display of Ten Commandments in Public-School Classrooms

CONTACT
Kristi Gross, ACLU of Texas, [email protected]
Ella Wiley, ACLU, [email protected]
Liz Hayes, Americans United, [email protected]
Amit Pal, Freedom From Religion Foundation, [email protected]
Caroline Fatchett, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, [email protected]

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit today upheld Senate Bill 10, a Texas law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom across the state.

Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP serving as pro bono counsel, the plaintiffs in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District are a multifaith group of 15 Texas families with children in public schools.

The organizations representing the plaintiffs issued the following statement in response to the decision:

"We are extremely disappointed in today’s decision. The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority. The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights. We anticipate asking the Supreme Court to reverse this decision and uphold the religious freedom rights of children and parents.”

Access a copy of the ruling here: https://www.aclutx.org/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-21-PUBLISHED-OPINION-FILED.-25-50695-Reversed-Judge-Nathan-v.-Alamo-Heights-ISD-ca5-2025-50695-00507945887.pdf