Texas Judge Ordered Galveston ISD to Post Ten Commandments Within 10 Days; Deadline Arrives as June Trial Looms
[TEXAS] Judge Jeth Jones of the 122nd District Court in Galveston County on Oct. 1 denied Galveston ISD's motion for a stay and, in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ordered the district to display donated Ten Commandments posters in its classrooms within 10 days, a deadline that fell on Oct. 11, the Texas Tribune, Houston Public Media, the Houston Chronicle and the Galveston County Daily News reported. The judge also set a trial for next June to resolve the dispute.
About 500 posters were donated by state Sen. Mayes Middleton. Paxton sued the district last November, alleging it violated Senate Bill 10, a 2025 Texas law requiring public schools to "conspicuously" display qualifying donated Ten Commandments posters in every classroom.
The Galveston ISD board had previously voted 5-2 to hold off pending a court hearing; after the hearing the district said it would comply with the judge's order. The district's attorneys had argued the state-court case should be stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to review the federal appellate ruling — an argument Jones also rejected.
Background: in April, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting en banc, ruled in Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District that S.B. 10 violates neither the Establishment Clause nor the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, vacating an earlier federal preliminary injunction; its mandate took effect May 12. Families challenging the law have sought U.S. Supreme Court review.
On Oct. 8, the conservative group Texas Values issued a statement citing the Oct. 1 Galveston court order, urging school districts statewide to immediately display qualifying donated posters without further delay, and offering free qualifying posters and legal guidance.
According to the Texas Tribune, district leaders had to comply by Oct. 11, and Jones scheduled a non-jury trial for next June to resolve the case on the merits.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Houston Public Media, Houston Chronicle, Galveston County Daily News, Texas Values Oct. 8 statement.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, 公共领域(Public Domain), 摄影 J. Williams
