The Dallas County judge issued a mask mandate at the outset of this morning's Dallas County Commissioner's court meeting, but not everyone heeded the order.
With COVID-19 cases soaring due to the Delta variant, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins ordered everyone at this morning's Commissioners Court meeting, including commissioners and attendees, to wear masks.
Jenkins ordered that those who refused to do so would be escorted out of the room.
Everyone in the room heeded Jenkins' order except one: Precinct Two Commissioner J.J. Koch.
Judge Jenkins then ordered the bailiff to remove Koch from the room and into his office so that he could attend virtually.
"Commissioner Koch, (do) you refuse to wear your mask," Judge Jenkins asked.
"Yep," Koch replied in an abrupt manner. "You do not have the authority, under the governor's order. In fact, this morning, I went to Starbucks, and I have a mask. And if you did things the right way, and weren't abusive of your power and very demeaning and unfortunately, condescending to your subordinates."
"I certainly don't mean to be," Jenkins replied. "Would you voluntarily join us in a virtual manner?"
"I don't think that's the appropriate thing to do," Koch responded. "I don't think you have the authority to order me to do that."
Jenkins was unmoved.
"I'm going to ask the bailiff now to clear the courtroom of people who refuse to wear their mask," Jenkins announced in open court. "And I only see one, and that is Commissioner Koch. And Commissioner Koch, we can recess for a moment for you to reconnect with us because we don't want you to miss court. Bailiff, will you please escort Commissioner Koch to his office so that he can join us for court?"
At that point, Koch gathers his computer and other belongings and is led out of the room by the bailiff.
"You're ordering that I cannot stay here in Commissioners Court," Koch said to Jenkins.
"I'd love for you to stay here with a mask on," Jenkins replied.
"Okay, but if I continue to not have a mask, I cannot be in this court and complete my elected duty here," Koch answered.
"We want you to complete your elected duty here," said Jenkins. "If you refuse to wear a mask, you can complete it virtually upstairs."
"Okay, just so it's clear for the record," Koch said.
The meeting was delayed for several minutes as IT worked to hook up Koch's connection in his office.
Koch is a Republican, and his precinct encompasses the entire northern edge of Dallas County, as well as the Park Cities and Lake Highlands.
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