A federal judge in Texas just dropped a bombshell ruling that’s got conservatives across the state fuming. On Tuesday, a court order came down demanding the removal of Ten Commandments displays from public schools in 14 districts, striking at the heart of a law meant to honor the nation’s moral foundation.
Reuters reported that Judge Orlando L. Garcia of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ruled that these displays, mandated by a state law signed in June 2025, violate constitutional protections for religious freedom, giving schools until December 2025 to comply.
Back in June 2025, Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed S.B. 10 into law, requiring public school classrooms across Texas to display the Ten Commandments as a nod to historical and moral principles. For many conservatives, this was a long-overdue recognition of the roots that shaped American law and ethics.
Fast forward to August 2025, when a federal judge initially blocked S.B. 10 in 11 school districts, calling it unconstitutional under the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. That ruling was a warning shot, but it didn’t cover all the bases—leaving room for further legal battles.
Enter the latest lawsuit, filed by families who argued that these displays trampled on their right to religious freedom. Their claim isn’t frivolous; the Establishment Clause has long been a battleground for cases involving religious symbols in public spaces, and courts have often sided against such displays in schools.
Now, Judge Garcia’s ruling on November 18, 2025, expands the ban to 14 districts, a broader sweep that’s got defenders of S.B. 10 seeing red.
“Displaying the Ten Commandments on the wall of a public-school classroom as outlined in S.B. 10 violates the Establishment Clause,” Garcia declared, as reported by the New York Times.
With all due respect to the judge, couldn’t one argue this is less about neutrality and more about scrubbing any trace of traditional values from public life?
Speaking of defenders, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been a vocal champion of the law, arguing it reflects the Christian principles foundational to the United States.
“America is a Christian nation, and we must display the very values and timeless truths that have historically guided the success of our country,” Paxton stated, according to the New York Times. While his passion resonates with many, the courts seem deaf to this historical argument, prioritizing a strict interpretation of separation over heritage.
Paxton didn’t stop there, aiming at districts that resisted S.B. 10 even before the rulings. He criticized their defiance as a rejection of both legislative will and national legacy, a stance that plays well with those frustrated by what they see as an overzealous push for secularism.
But let’s be fair—opponents of the law aren’t just rabble-rousers looking to erase history. They genuinely fear that mandating religious displays in schools could alienate students of different faiths or no faith at all, a concern that deserves a thoughtful response rather than dismissal.
Still, one has to wonder if the pendulum has swung too far against any acknowledgment of faith in public spaces. The Establishment Clause is meant to prevent government endorsement of religion, not to treat historical moral codes like contraband in a classroom.
For many Texans, this ruling feels like another step toward a sterile, values-free education system dictated by progressive ideals.
The timeline for compliance—December 2025—gives schools a narrow window to dismantle these displays, but it also offers time for appeals or legislative pushback. Will Paxton and his allies find a way to challenge this ruling, or is this the end of the line for S.B. 10?
Critics of the judge’s decision might argue that the Ten Commandments aren’t just religious text—they’re a cultural artifact, a blueprint for laws against theft, murder, and deceit. Ignoring that context feels like tossing out the baby with the bathwater in the name of neutrality.
On the flip side, supporters of the ruling see it as a victory for constitutional integrity, ensuring no child feels pressured by state-sponsored religion. While that perspective has merit, it often glosses over the reality that neutrality can sometimes look a lot like hostility toward tradition.
This battle is far from over, as religious displays in schools have been contested for decades under the First Amendment. Each ruling adds another layer to the debate, but rarely settles it, leaving Texans—and Americans at large—divided on where to draw the line.