U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles has halted a Louisiana law that mandated public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, ruling it unconstitutional.

The law, set to take effect January 1, 2024, would have required public school classrooms from elementary to college levels to display 11-by-14-inch posters of the Ten Commandments, along with a note emphasizing their historical role in American education.

Judge deGravelles, an Obama appointee, described the law as “coercive” and a violation of students’ rights, noting it would expose students to religious texts daily with no feasible way to opt-out.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill quickly announced plans to appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, asserting that the court’s conservative leaning could yield a favorable outcome. Supporters of the law, mostly conservative Christian groups, argue it highlights the commandments’ cultural significance, while critics maintain it breaches the separation of church and state.