One North Texas county judge takes issue with Governor Abbott's comments that officials who want more authority to fight the spread of COVID-19 need to use the tools that are already in place.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley says when it comes to issuing local orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, his hands are tied. For example, he has called for the ability to issue fines for people who refuse to wear masks. He says Abbott's current order makes that impossible.
"Technically under the law you can't issues a citation because you're detaining them to do that" said judge Whitley.
And the Governor's order does not allow for law enforcemet to detain people for violating the order.
Week after week in Commissioners Court, a small handful of people speak out against the mask order; saying, among other things, that it violates their civil liberties. Whitley says he's dismayed by that approach.
"Don't make this political, wear the mask and watch out for your neighbor" said Whitley.
