Texas Court Upholds Ten Commandments Display in Classrooms Amid AG Paxton's Personal Scandals

A U.S. Appeals Court has ruled that the Texas state government may join Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama in requiring public K–12 schools to display the Ten Commandments in all classrooms.

Attorney General Ken Paxton, a vocal advocate for the policy, hailed the decision as a "major victory for Texas and our moral values." He stated,

"The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it's important that students learn from them every single day."

However, the policy's timing raises questions, as it comes after Paxton, who is polling ahead of incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the GOP runoff election on May, has faced personal scandals. Last July, his wife of 38 years, state Senator Angela Paxton, filed for divorce on "biblical grounds," citing his alleged adultery—a violation of the Ten Commandments.

Paxton has also been linked to other controversies, including allegations of coveting a neighbor's $1,000 Montblanc pen. In 2014, The Dallas Morning News reported that Paxton, then a state senator, was seen on surveillance footage pocketing the pen at a courthouse metal-detector checkpoint. After being confronted, he returned the item to the rightful owner via a deputy.

Would the Ten Commandments—listed in the Old Testament's Book of Exodus—truly improve morality among Texas students? The commandments include directives such as "honor your father and mother," and prohibitions against killing, stealing, adultery, bearing false witness, and coveting others' possessions. While these principles are widely regarded as sound advice, they do not address issues particularly prevalent among young people in Texas or elsewhere.

Other commandments, such as prohibitions against worshipping other gods, taking God's name in vain, or creating "graven images," may also prove challenging to enforce. Approximately a quarter of Texas' population identifies as religiously unaffiliated or follows non-Abrahamic faiths like Hinduism or Buddhism. Additionally, interpretations of the Ten Commandments vary among Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant traditions, particularly regarding the definition of "graven images" or false idols and the observance of the Sabbath (whether on Saturdays or Sundays).

In a state known for its 24/7 culture—epitomized by the ever-expanding Buc-ee's convenience store chain—keeping the Sabbath holy may prove difficult.