In announcing legal action taken by the governor’s office Wenesday, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott promised to take any school district, public university, or local government officials to court if they implement mask mandates in defiance of his executive order.
Along with the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, Abbott disclosed the filing of a petition to nullify an emergency order from a Dallas County judge mandating mask-wearing in schools, businesses, and county government buildings.
In a statement, the governor claims the county judge’s order violates his executive order, which he argues has “the force and effect of state law and supersedes local rules and regulations.”
“Any school district, public university, or local government official that decides to defy the order will be taken to court,” the statement reads, citing the governor’s authority during state emergencies.
“Under Executive Order GA-38, no governmental entity can require or mandate the wearing of masks,” Abbott said in the statement. “The path forward relies on personal responsibility—not government mandates. The State of Texas will continue to vigorously fight the temporary restraining order to protect the rights and freedoms of all Texans.”
The state attorney general dismissed the judge’s ruling as an attempt to garner the spotlight.
“This isn’t the first time we have dealt with activist characters. It’s deja vu all over again,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Attention-grabbing judges and mayors have defied executive orders before, when the pandemic first started, and the courts ruled on our side – the law. I’m confident the outcomes to any suits will side with liberty and individual choice, not mandates and government overreach.”