Judge orders Texas schools to remove Ten Commandments displays

November 20, 2025

A federal judge has ordered the removal of posters of the Ten Commandments from classrooms in the Fort Worth, Arlington, McKinney, Frisco, Azle, Rockwall and Mansfield Independent School Districts.

The Christian Post reports that U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction ordering removal of the Ten Commandments which are required by SB 10 to be displayed in every public school classroom in Texas.

Garcia, who was the same judge that ruled Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, ruled that the mandated displays “violate the Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment, which prohibits government endorsement of religion.

“It is impractical, if not impossible, to prevent Plaintiffs from being subjected to unwelcome religious displays without enjoining Defendants from enforcing SB 10 across their districts,” Garcia continued.

According to the Christian Post, 15 multifaith and nonreligious families whose children attend Texas public schools, filed lawsuit with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Freedom From Religion Foundation.

The plaintiffs in the suit include Jewish, Muslim and nonreligious families who say that the posters would ostracize minority students and coerce them into religious observance.

Garcia’s order is the second major federal injunction against SB 10 after U.S. District Judge Fred Biery deemed the law “plainly unconstitutional,” leading to an order in August blocking its enforcement in 11 other districts, including Plano ISD.

The districts have until Dec. 1 to remove the posters and must submit evidence of compliance by Dec. 9.

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