Texas Supreme Court Backs Up Governor’s Ban on Local Mask Mandates
The Texas Supreme court has sided with Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton in upholding the governor's state wide ban on mask mandates.
The Supreme Court action blocked temporary restraining orders that came from district court judges. The orders, upheld Friday by intermediate appellate courts, made it possible for local authorities to temporarily override the state mask requirement ban, the Austin American-Statesman reports.
The series of Friday rulings temporarily allowed Texas's four most populous counties — Harris, Dallas, Bexar and Travis — to enforce mask mandates. The Texas Supreme Court ruling has now blocked them, although trial court hearings scheduled for Monday in San Antonio and Aug. 24 in Dallas, where decisions will be made as to issue temporary injunctions that would allow mask mandates, will still proceed.
The governor reacted to the news via Twitter on Sunday.
Here is a message for those who don't understand this. If there is not a mandate, that doesn't mean you can't wear a mask. You have a choice. Think for yourself. Some people have to be mandated. The governor is saying you don't have to be mandated. Again, you have a choice. And the Texas Supreme Court is saying you have a right to that choice.
So, what do you think about those entities that challenged the governor's executive order on mask mandates who have been blocked by this ruling? What about students who are going back to school? Should they be mandated to wear masks, or do you agree with the governor and the state Supreme Court? Give us your thoughts and opinion on Facebook or on our station app.