Fact Check: Louisiana's similar law blocked twice by federal courts as unconstitutional.

Fact Check: "Louisiana's similar law blocked twice by federal courts as unconstitutional."

What We Know

The claim that Louisiana's law has been blocked twice by federal courts as unconstitutional pertains to a recent ruling regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. On June 20, 2025, a panel of federal appellate judges ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom is unconstitutional, citing violations of the First Amendment's establishment clause, which mandates the separation of church and state (NPR, New York Times). This ruling follows a previous decision by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who had also declared the mandate unconstitutional and ordered state education officials not to enforce it (NPR, Reuters).

The law was signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry in June 2024 and was part of a broader conservative push to incorporate religious elements into public education (NPR, Washington Post). The appeals court's ruling was seen as a significant victory for civil liberties groups, which argued that the law would alienate students of different faiths (NPR).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that Louisiana's law has been blocked twice is substantial. The recent appellate court ruling is well-documented and reported by multiple reputable sources, including NPR, the New York Times, and Reuters, all of which confirm that the law was deemed unconstitutional by both a district court and an appellate court (NPR, New York Times, Reuters).

However, the claim's phrasing, "blocked twice," may lead to some ambiguity. While it is accurate that two separate court rulings have found the law unconstitutional, they are part of the same legal challenge rather than two distinct laws or instances. The initial ruling by Judge deGravelles and the subsequent appellate decision are sequential rather than separate occurrences.

The sources reporting on this issue are credible, with NPR and the New York Times being established news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. The legal analysis provided by these outlets aligns with the broader understanding of First Amendment rights and the historical context of church-state separation in the United States.

Conclusion

Needs Research. While the claim that Louisiana's law has been blocked twice by federal courts as unconstitutional is largely accurate, it requires clarification regarding the nature of the rulings. The two rulings stem from the same legal case, and thus, the claim could be misleading without proper context. Further investigation into the specifics of the legal challenges and the implications of these rulings would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Fact Check: Louisiana's similar law blocked twice by federal courts as unconstitutional.