Federal judge orders Conway School District to remove 10 Commandments displays amid lawsuit

CONWAY, Ark. – A federal judge has ordered the Conway School District to pull down displays featuring the 10 Commandments from classrooms amid an ongoing lawsuit.

The Thursday ruling states that the Conway School District is required to remove all 10 Commandments displays from all classrooms and libraries by no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29.

The temporary restraining order comes after a federal court filing on behalf of Conway parents moved to add Conway School District to a lawsuit opposing the law, Act 573 of 2025.

The act mandated the display of the 10 Commandments in Arkansas public buildings and schools.

This comes on the heels of an Aug. 4 temporary injunction preventing the 10 Commandments in the Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Siloam Springs School Districts pending the suit going to trial. Parents in those districts felt the law was an unfair effort to indoctrinate their children.

The ACLU of Arkansas shared a statement Thursday evening after the ruling.

 “Conway School District had every opportunity to do the right thing and respect families’ constitutional rights, but instead chose to defy a clear federal ruling,” said John Williams, legal director of the ACLU of Arkansas. “The court has now made it crystal clear: forcing the Ten Commandments into public school classrooms is unconstitutional. We stand ready to defend the rights of every Arkansan against this kind of government overreach.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin shared a statement Thursday night after the ruling.

“I am disappointed in the ruling but will continue to vigorously defend Act 573,” Griffin said.