Video: Lawsuit filed over Arkansas Ten Commandments in classrooms law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Monday filing by the Arkansas attorney general would block a group of Conway parents from joining the currently underway lawsuit blocking the 10 Commandments being displayed in four Arkansas school districts.
A Tuesday filing on behalf of the parents opposes the AG’s legal argument. The filings have been rapid-fire, with a Friday filing on behalf of the Conway parents, a Monday filing by the AG’s office opposing the parents’ position, and a Tuesday filing opposing the AG’s position.
Court filing would add Conway schools to Arkansas 10 Commandments suit
The filing by the AG’s office cites three reasons why the Conway parents should not be allowed, stating that the court lacks jurisdiction, admitting them would alter the plaintiff’s theory of the case, and that Arkansas would suffer prejudice if they are admitted.
JURISDICTION
The state argues that, as it is in the process of appealing the lawsuit attempting to block Act 573 of 2025, which mandates the 10 Commandments in school classrooms, the court is unable to add additional parties to the lawsuit.
The Tuesday filing, headed by the Arkansas ACLU, spends most of its response pushing back on this, citing that there is no particular rule that would forbid the court from adding parties.
CASE THEORY
The AG’s filing maintains that adding a plaintiff two and a half months after the suit was filed initially is an “undue delay” and contradicts the original claim of standing in the case. Since the Conway parents have a problem with Act 573 after the initial claim, the argument goes, it changes the claims initially made.
Federal judge blocks law mandating display of Ten Commandments in Arkansas public schools
The Tuesday filing maintains that adding new parties does not change the fundamentals of the case.
PREJUDICE
Adding a party would upend the appeal, the AG’s office wrote, and open the door for additional pleading of the same nature from other school districts.
The responding filing is very dismissive of this point, adding that it is perfectly reasonable for parents to oppose Act 573.
Arkansas attorney general files motion to intervene in 10 Commandments lawsuit
Currently, an Aug. 4 temporary injunction forbids the 10 Commandments from being displayed in the Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Siloam Springs School Districts pending the suit going to trial.
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