DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - A Dallas County commissioner who was thrown out of Commissioners Court for refusing to wear a mask is now suing the county judge.
On Tuesday, Judge Clay Jenkins orders the bailiff to escort Precinct 2 Commissioner J.J. Koch out of the meeting and into his office to attend virtually.
Koch says under Gov. Abbott's latest executive order, Jenkins did not have the authority to require masks to be worn during Commissioners Court.
"Because the authority that he was citing wasn't good authority for him to do what he wanted to do, I refused to put on my mask," Koch says in an interview with KRLD. "I absolutely vigorously opposed to misrepresenting authority and not following the rule of law."
Koch says he is not seeking any monetary compensation in his lawsuit.
"We just need to get a temporary restraining order to stop him from trying to use this misapplied piece of authority to require people to mask in court," says Koch.
Koch is also asking the court to remove Jenkins from his position as county judge, citing what he calls "incompetency and official misconduct."
Koch is the lone Republican commissioner in Dallas County, and his district encompasses the entire northern edge of the county, as well as the Park Cities and Lake Highlands.
Koch says he has no regrets about his conduct on Tuesday.
"In reviewing it, I'm pleasantly surprised that I stayed good and calm," Koch says, "because I know at the time, I was really indignant that someone would basically lie regarding the state of the law, and someone who's an attorney."
Judge Jenkins has released a statement on the matter.
"The enemy is the virus not each other," Jenkins' statement reads. "My actions were taken after consultation with local doctors to increase safety for people in attendance."
You can read the lawsuit here.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD
