A federal judge has ruled that Arkansas Act 573, a law requiring the display of the 10 Commandments in Arkansas public school classrooms, is unconstitutional.
In a ruling issued March 16, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Timothy L. Brooks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas declared the law in violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The decision came in the case Samantha Stinson et al. v. Fayetteville School District No. 1 et al., Case No. 5:25-CV-5127.
According to the court’s judgment, Arkansas Act 573 violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prevents the government from establishing or promoting a particular religion.
Judge Brooks wrote in the ruling that the act would also violate Free Exercise Clause rights because it was considered denominationally preferential and could interfere with the rights of parents to direct their children’s religious upbringing.
The court permanently enjoined the enforcement of the law, meaning state officials, school districts, and employees are prohibited from enforcing or complying with the act.
The ruling states:
“Arkansas Act 573 is declared unconstitutional. Act 573 violates the First Amendment Establishment Clause rights of Arkansans as a matter of law.”
The court also directed the plaintiffs to file a motion for attorney’s fees and costs within 14 days of the judgment.
The lawsuit involved plaintiffs challenging the law against the Fayetteville School District No. 1, along with other defendants, while the State of Arkansas, represented by Attorney General Tim Griffin, intervened in the case.
The decision marks a significant development in an ongoing national debate regarding the role of religious displays in public schools.
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