David Cox of Arkansas Family Council explains the disputed law "provides for these Ten Commandments posters to be paid for with private funds and then displayed in public school classrooms, libraries, [and] other public buildings."
It received strong support from the Arkansas Legislature this year.
But Monday's ruling from U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, prevents it from taking effect in four of the state's largest districts where families sued with help from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
So as students return for a new school year, public schools in Arkansas' 233 districts that are not part of this lawsuit are free to display the posters of the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.
Cox says Judge Brooks does have a reputation for leaning to the left in his rulings, but what he found really surprising was that Brooks asked why Arkansas would pass an "obviously unconstitutional law" and that he then went on to accuse the state of taking part in "a coordinated strategy to inject Christian religious doctrine into public school classrooms."
"Normally, Judge Brooks and other federal judges are mostly content to stick to talking about the merits of the law," notes Cox. "But here with this order against the law that the legislature passed, the decision gets over into the area of really accusing Arkansas lawmakers of being part of some conspiracy … to bring Christian doctrine into classrooms."
Pointing to statements from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) and others, Cox says the reality is "the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that the Ten Commandments have an enormous historical significance in the United States of America."
In its broader context, this state law helps educate Arkansas' public school students about items of historical significance, which includes the national motto, the United States flag, and the state flag of Arkansas.
"It was disappointing to see that kind of rhetoric in this ruling from Judge Brooks in this case," Cox adds.
Texas and Louisiana have passed similar laws requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. The issue is expected to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
