The governor of Texas can ban mask mandates, at least for now, after the State Supreme Court sided with the state on Sunday, granting a request for an emergency stay of an appellate court ruling that would have allowed schools to make face coverings mandatory. The decision is temporary, lasting only until the State Supreme Court, whose justices are elected and are currently all Republicans, makes a final ruling. The Dallas Independent School District and San Antonio Independent School District each said on Monday that they would continue to require masks for now, despite the ruling. “The City of San Antonio and Bexar County’s response to the Texas Supreme Court continues to emphasize that the governor cannot use his emergency powers to suspend laws that provide local entities the needed flexibility to act in an emergency,” Andy Segovia, San Antonio’s city attorney, said in a statement on Sunday. “His suspension authority is meant to facilitate action, not prohibit it.”Michael Hinojosa, the superintendent of the Dallas district, held a news conference after the State Supreme Court ruling was announced on Sunday night, and said that after consulting with lawyers, he planned to continue the district’s mask mandate — but that that could change, depending on the shifting legal situation.

Source: International New York Times August 15, 2021 23:42 UTC