In a move to challenge the constitutionality of a new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom in Louisiana, civil liberties groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block its implementation. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include parents of Louisiana public school children, represented by prominent legal organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

The legislation, known as HB 71, was signed into law last week by Republican Governor Jeff Landry. It mandates that all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities in Louisiana display a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments by next year, featuring a "large, easily readable font." Supporters of the law argue that it holds historical significance beyond being solely religious and considers the Ten Commandments as "foundational documents of our state and national government."

However, opponents of the legislation contend that the law infringes on the principle of separation of church and state, and raises concerns about isolating students, particularly those who do not adhere to the Christian faith. They argue that the Ten Commandments display in public schools would constitute a government establishment of religion, thus violating the First Amendment's clauses which both prohibit the government from promoting any religion and guarantee religious liberty.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, seeks a court declaration that HB 71 is unconstitutional under the First Amendment and requests an order to halt the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The suit argues that the state's primary objective in passing the law was to impose religious beliefs on public-school children, regardless of the potential harm to students and families.

Defendants in the case include State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, members of the state education board, and some local school boards. Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill has expressed her support for the new law and stated her intention to defend it. She acknowledged the lawsuit but refrained from commenting on it until she had a chance to review the details.

The Ten Commandments have been the subject of numerous lawsuits across the United States. In a significant precedent, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that a similar Kentucky law violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling stated that the law had no secular purpose and solely served a religious function, determining it as unconstitutional.

As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome of this lawsuit will have far-reaching implications on the intersection of religion and public education in Louisiana and may impact similar cases in other states grappling with similar controversies.