Federal appeals court to hear oral arguments in Ten Commandments case on Tuesday

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday will hear oral arguments in a case challenging a state law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

At issue is Act 573 of 2025, which mandated that public schools in Arkansas “prominently display … in a conspicuous place” a specific version of the biblical edicts chosen by the state Legislature. A coalition of 10 multi-faith and nonreligious Arkansas families challenged the law in federal court, saying it violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of separation of church and state.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks ruled the law was unconstitutional earlier this year, and the state of Arkansas appealed. Retired law school dean John DiPippa wrote about the ongoing litigation for the Arkansas Times in March following Brooks’ ruling.

Tuesday’s oral arguments will take place in St. Louis in front of Judges Bobby E. Shepherd, L. Steven Grasz and David R. Stras. It’s a particularly unfriendly panel for such a challenge. Shepherd, who hails from El Dorado, was appointed by George W. Bush, while Grasz and Stras are Trump appointees.

The appellate court is expected to provide a public access number here for people who want to listen to the arguments live. Archived oral arguments will be available here shortly after the hearing concludes.