Judge Temporarily Blocks “Ten Commandments” Law in 11 ISDs
A federal judge this morning (Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025) issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit seeking to prohibit the 11 school districts named as defendants from implementing a Texas law that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
The preliminary injunction applies to only the 11 school districts that were sued by 16 parents of various religious backgrounds — who were represented by the ACLU and other religious freedom organizations.
The 11 ISDs are:
- Alamo Heights ISD.
- Austin ISD.
- Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.
- Dripping Springs ISD.
- Fort Bend ISD.
- Houston ISD.
- Lackland ISD.
- Lake Travis ISD.
- North East ISD.
- Northside ISD [Bexar County].
- Plano ISD.
U.S. district court judge Fred Biery concluded that the Ten Commandments classroom posting law (SB10), which is due to take effect on Sept. 1, 2025, likely violates both the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.
Attorneys who brought forth the case expressed hope in court that other districts would not implement a law that a federal judge has now found unconstitutional. The outcome of a similar federal lawsuit is pending in Dallas.
It’s likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will have the final word on the constitutionality of the Texas law.
Read the judge’s decision here, and the Texas Tribune has more here.
