U.S. District Judge Fred Biery rules the law, set to take effect Sept. 1, is unconstitutional, and allowed lawsuits opposing it to proceed.

In surprising fashion, a federal judge in San Antonio on Wednesday morning temporarily blocked a new state law requiring public schools to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in every classroom in Texas. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued his 55-page ruling that described the law as coercive and unconstitutional.

A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders sought a preliminary injunction against the law, which was set to take effect on Sept. 1.