Dallas (1080 KRLD) - A new mask mandate took effect in Dallas County courthouses bringing a new round of confusion over whether masks can or cannot be required in certain governmental buildings in Texas.
In an order signed Friday, Dallas County Local Administrative District Judge Maricela Moore took language directly from a Texas Supreme Court directive that Texas courts have “…broad inherent authority to control orderly proceedings in courtrooms.”
The order was issued after a surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus began taking hold. The confusion is over whether the order ran counter to a May executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott that prohibits mask enforcement in public buildings.
In the end, the courts seem to have the upper hand, although the new requirement put security screeners at courthouses in the role of news-breakers to some who had business in the courts, but were unfamiliar with the new mask order.
“They’re pretty much telling me that I need to let people in, let them know about the mask thing. But everyone’s confused,” said one screener who asked that his name not be used because he was not authorized to speak.
At the Crowley Courthouse, screeners kept a fresh supply of paper masks at the security checkpoint for those who were not aware of the order.
“If it’s a mandate, it’s a mandate,” said Rob Boles, who was unaware of the new rule before he arrived at the courthouse. “I’d rather wear a mask than the alternative, I guess. I have too much to worry about, complain about than wearing a mask.” Boles had bought his two young children into the building. All were wearing masks.
Still, the wording of the mandate confused some, who wondered what “for the purposes of conducting court business of any kind shall wear a face covering while in common areas of the court buildings” actually meant.
“Does that mean in the hallways or in my courtroom?” wondered 292nd State District Court Judge Brandon Birmingham.
The order applies to the George Allen civil courthouse, the Crowley criminal courthouse, and the Henry Wade juvenile facility.
Last month Chief U. S. District Court Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn ordered masks to be worn into all federal courthouses in the Northern District. The federal court order allows individual judges to decide whether face coverings are needed in their individual courtrooms.
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