Judge rules against teacher who displayed crucifix in classroom, testified before Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission

November 6, 2025

A federal judge has ruled against a Connecticut public school teacher who earlier this year testified before President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission after being told she could not have a crucifix near her desk.

The Christian Post reports that Marisol Arroyo-Castro’s request for a preliminary injunction was rejected by U.S. District Judge Sarah Russell of the District of Connecticut who issued a memorandum and order on Monday.

After being barred from displaying a crucifix on the wall in her classroom last year, Arroyo-Castro filed suit against officials with the Consolidated School District of New Britain.

Judge Russell said Arroyo-Castro’s display was not “protected speech” and wrote that the teacher was “unlikely to prevail on the merits of her free speech and free exercise claims.”

Russell wrote: “I conclude that Ms. Castro acted pursuant to her official duties when she posted items on the classroom wall that students would see during instructional time. The classroom wall decorations are thus speech pursuant to Ms. Castro’s official duties and subject to the District’s control.”

According to the Christian Post, Arroyo-Castro is being represented by the First Liberty Institute (FLI) and the law firm WilmerHale.

In a statement Monday, FLI Senior Counsel Keisha Russell said that the district court’s order “flies in the face of clear Supreme Court precedent,” adding, “Requiring a teacher to purge their workspace of anything religious is blatant discrimination that violates the First Amendment.”

Russell said, “We will appeal and continue to fight for Marisol’s religious liberty rights.”

Arroyo-Castro has taught at DiLoreto Elementary & Middle School since 2008

Photo: top, Credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Dept. of Justice