New class-action suit filed to stop Commandments in Texas

A group of 18 Texas families representing diverse faiths and nonreligious backgrounds filed a class-action lawsuit on December 2nd to prevent the display of the Ten Commandments in public school districts not currently under injunction. This action follows two previous lawsuits challenging Senate Bill 10, which mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, with two federal judges already ruling the bill unconstitutional. The plaintiffs argue that a class-action suit is the most effective way to protect the religious freedom of all public school children, given the state’s over 1,000 school districts.

The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt the displays. The named defendants include 16 school districts across major metropolitan areas in Texas. Despite previous court rulings, some districts continued to display or planned to display the Ten Commandments, prompting the second lawsuit, *Cribbs Ringer v. Comal Independent School District*.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has actively supported the law and even sued districts to enforce it. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear an appeal of the initial injunction on January 20, 2026, but current injunctions remain in place. The ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, along with Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP, represent the plaintiffs, emphasizing that public schools should not be used to promote specific religious beliefs.

(Source：Baptist News Global)