Richardson ISD has been named in a class action lawsuit over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Richardson ISD
The display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, mandated by the passage of Senate Bill 10 during the summer legislative session, has raised concerns over First Amendment rights and religious freedom since the bill took effect in September. The latest lawsuit, filed in the San Antonio federal court in the Western District of Texas, seeks to prohibit Richardson ISD and other school districts in Texas from displaying the Ten Commandments going forward.
RISD officials declined to comment on ongoing litigation, but did say the district had not been formally served with legal papers related to the suit.
Two other lawsuits have previously been filed against certain school districts across the state over the display of the Ten Commandments. In August, a Federal Circuit Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against their display in at least nine Texas school districts, while in November, a second Federal judge temporarily blocked their display in 15 additional districts.
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The organizations represent 18 “multifaith and nonreligious” families who attend 16 school districts not named in the first two lawsuits, including RISD. It differs from previous suits in the fact that, as a class-action lawsuit, it aims to prevent all school districts not affected by previous suits from displaying the Ten Commandments.
“With more than 1,000 school districts in Texas, a class action lawsuit is the most effective way to protect the religious freedom of all Texas public school children and their families,” a release states.
Under Senate Bill 10, school districts are not required to purchase posters displaying the Ten Commandments. They are, however, required to visibly display all donated copies in classrooms.