Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

A coalition of multifaith groups plans to ask the Supreme Court to review Texas' law allowing Ten Commandments displays in public schools, arguing it violates the First Amendment's establishment clause. The case contrasts with a 1980 ruling (Stone v. Graham) that banned such displays, as the Fifth Circuit recently upheld Texas' law, citing the Supreme Court's 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton decision that discarded the Lemon test. The dispute centers on originalist interpretations of the founders' views on church-state separation.

The Trump administration directed federal agencies to prioritize religious liberty in regulations and enforcement, citing the First Amendment, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and recent Supreme Court rulings. The guidance emphasizes compliance with legal protections for religious exercise in employment, contracts, and grants, referencing cases like Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Groff v. DeJoy.

The Trump administration updated Department of Justice guidance to prioritize religious liberty in federal regulations and policies, citing Supreme Court rulings and statutory protections like the First Amendment and Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The changes emphasize accommodating religious expression in workplaces, ensuring equal access for religious organizations in federal contracts, and aligning with recent court decisions such as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Groff v. DeJoy.

A federal appeals court upheld a Texas law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, ruling it does not violate the Constitution's First Amendment. The 9-8 decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a prior injunction, citing the Supreme Court's 2022 abandonment of the Lemon test, which had previously invalidated similar laws like the 1980 Stone v. Graham case.