Texas Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Local Mask Mandates

The Texas Supreme Court on Aug. 15 granted an emergency stay to Gov. Greg Abbott over his ban on mask mandates.

It overrides lower court rulings that allowed Dallas and Bexar counties to temporarily enable the mask mandate locally, despite the Republican governor’s order that barred government entities and officials from doing so.

Abbott said at the time that Texans, not the government, should decide their best health practices.

Local officials in Dallas and Bexar counties, including San Antonio, meanwhile cited strains on hospitals amid a surge in cases linked to the COVID-19 Delta variant as justifications for keeping the mask requirements in place.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said requiring face masks would help to curb the transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The emergency stay is temporary, and the case will continue to be heard in lower courts. A hearing for Bexar County was scheduled for Aug. 16, and for Dallas County, a hearing was set for Aug. 24.

“Today, SCOTEX has ordered Dallas Co and Dallas ISD to follow Exec. Order GA-38. Local mask mandates are illegal under GA-38,” state Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on Twitter following the Aug. 15 ruling. “Let this ruling serve as a reminder to all ISDs and local officials that the Governor’s order stands.” – READ MORE