The Texas legislature passed a controversial bill, signed into law by the governor, mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. [16] The law specified that a poster, at least 16 by 20 inches, must be placed in a conspicuous location, legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the room. [14]
The law was immediately challenged by a coalition of sixteen families from diverse religious backgrounds, including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and nonreligious individuals. [9] They argued that the mandate was a violation of the First Amendment, specifically the Establishment Clause, which prevents government endorsement of religion. [4, 8, 13] Their lawsuit asserted that the law was not neutral and represented an unconstitutional government coercion of religious belief. [6, 7]
A federal judge, Fred Biery, presided over the case. [2] In a detailed 55-page ruling, he concluded that the law was likely unconstitutional. [4] He wrote that the state-mandated displays would pressure students into adopting a favored religious viewpoint and send a harmful message to children of other faiths that they are outsiders. [6, 8, 13]
Consequently, Judge Biery issued a preliminary injunction, a temporary order that prevents the law from taking effect while the case proceeds. [8, 12] He noted that the law "crosses the line from exposure to coercion." [6, 7] Although civil liberties groups celebrated the ruling as a victory for religious freedom, the Texas Attorney General announced plans to appeal, signaling a protracted legal battle that may ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court. [2, 4]