Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has agreed to hear Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independence School District en banc, meaning the full court will review the case rather than a smaller panel. The case revolves around the ongoing legal challenges for Texas schools to be able to display the Ten Commandments.
The case will be considered alongside similar litigation out of Louisiana involving comparable legislation.
"I'm proud to defend Texas's right to uphold our legal and moral heritage by protecting the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools," said Paxton. "There is no reason any school district should be prohibited from displaying these foundational words that have guided our laws and values for centuries."
The case stems from lawsuits filed against multiple Texas school districts seeking to block the implementation of Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), which allows donated copies of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms.
A federal judge initially granted an injunction halting the enforcement of the law, prompting Paxton to appeal to the Fifth Circuit.
Paxton has consistently defended the state's authority to preserve its legal traditions and moral foundations. Following the Legislature's passage of SB 10, he issued a legal advisory affirming that school districts have both the right and obligation to display the Ten Commandments when donated.
"The Ten Commandments reflect principles that shaped both our state and our nation, and students benefit greatly from being able to learn from them daily," said Paxton.
The Fifth Circuit has ordered expedited briefing in the case, with oral arguments expected in early 2026.
