A US federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the entry into force of a Louisiana law that would have required all public classrooms in the state to prominently display the Ten Commandments.

The ruling came in response to a motion by plaintiffs to enjoin state authorities from enforcing the law, which had been set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, pending the outcome of litigation.

Enacted in June, Louisiana House Bill 71 states that all public classrooms, from the elementary to the university levels, must prominently display the directives.

Critics of the law swiftly pointed to the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which enshrines the principle of the separation of church and state.  While the Ten Commandments feature prominently in the Christian and Jewish Bibles, they have no role in the other religions and denominations public school students in the state adhere to, such as Islam and Hinduism. Plaintiffs have further argued that the legislature’s chosen translation of the ancient text favors a Protestant interpretation, thus alienating students belonging to other Christian denominations and the Jewish faith.

Shortly after the law was passed, plaintiffs, including a Unitarian reverend, her Jewish husband, and parents and schoolchildren affiliated with Louisiana public schools, sued various state authorities, alleging the law violated their rights under the First Amendment.

On Tuesday, Judge John deGravelles of the US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana sided with the plaintiffs in their motion to enjoin enforcement of HB 71, finding the law to be unconstitutional on its face. The ruling blocked enforcement of the law, and required the defendants to notify all public schools of the court’s finding of unconstitutionality.

Civil rights advocacy group ACLU lauded the decision, describing it as a “victory for religious freedom.” Heather Weaver, senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said in a statement:

This ruling should serve as a reality check for Louisiana lawmakers who want to use public schools to convert children to their preferred brand of Christianity. … Public schools are not Sunday schools, and today’s decision ensures that our clients’ classrooms will remain spaces where all students, regardless of their faith, feel welcomed.

In a statement to The New York Times, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said she planned to appeal the decision immediately.