Opponents of Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law want judge to block it before new school year starts

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Opponents of a new Louisiana law that requires a version of the Ten Commandments that will be posted in public school classrooms have asked a federal court to block implementation of the requirement while the case against it progresses and before the start of the new school year.

A group of parents of Louisiana public school students, representing various religions, filed the lawsuit last month, shortly after the Republican governor. Jeff Landry signed the new law. In motions filed Monday, his lawyers asked for an injunction blocking the law. And they sought a quick briefing and hearing schedule that would require the state to respond to the injunction request by July 19 and for a hearing on July 29. Public schools open in August.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Baton Rouge, says the law violates provisions of the First Amendment that protect religious freedom and prohibit laws that establish a religion.

Supporters of the law argue that it does not violate the Constitution and that publication of the Ten Commandments is appropriate and legal because they are part of the basis of U.S. law.