As the pandemic continues so does the fight between Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Texas Governor Greg Abbott over mask mandates, but this fight is really about power.
It's no longer about masks, this fight is over which elected official has the authority in times of emergency.
In new papers filed in the Texas Supreme Court, Governor Abbott says the Texas Legislature has given the Governor sole authority and that it's simply unworkable for all 254 Texas County judges to overrule the Governor.
Abbott says if that were to happen, his role would become nothing more than a spectator.
The fight began in August of 2021 when the Governor signed an executive order prohibiting any elected officials from issuing mask mandates.
Jenkins, citing the then-blossoming Coronavirus omicron variant, immediately signed an order of his own requiring masks to be worn in Dallas County - and the fight was on.
So far the courts have sided with Jenkins. Abbott is hoping the Texas Supreme Court will settle the matter for good, giving him the authority.
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