A Texas judge has sided with the city of Austin in Attorney General Ken Paxton (R)’s lawsuit over the city’s mask mandate.
Judge Lora Livingston on Friday refused to grant the state a temporary injunction, according to NX subsidiary KXAN.
The verdict will keep the mandate in force for at least another two weeks and another trial is on March 26, reports KXAN. Livingston may change her verdict after hearing more arguments.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler praised the ruling on Twitter, saying, “Good news! We learned this morning that Austin’s mask rules will remain in effect for the next two weeks. We will return to court on March 26.”
“No matter what happens then, we will continue to be guided by doctors and data. Masking works,” he tweeted.
Good news! We learned this morning that Austin’s mask rules will remain in effect for the next two weeks. We return to court on March 26.
No matter what happens then, we will continue to be guided by doctors and data. Masking works. #MaskUpATX pic.twitter.com/tD4Gn6xPpk
– Mayor Adler | wear a mask. (@MayorAdler) 12 March 2021
Travis judge Andy Brown also shared the verdict on Twitter.
“After today’s court hearing, the requirement to wear masks in Travis County and Austin businesses remains in effect,” Brown tweeted. ‘Thank you to our provincial lawyer [Delia Garcia] and team to fight to keep our community safe. ”
Many thanks to our provincial lawyer @DGTCAttorney and team to fight to keep our community safe
– Judge in Travis, Andy Brown (@TravisCoJudge) 12 March 2021
Paxton on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Adler, Brown and Austin’s interim medical director and health authority, Mark Escott, over the city’s decision to maintain its local mask mandate after the country’s restrictions were lifted.
The Attorney General Eagle threatened Wednesday with a lawsuit if the mask mandate is not removed, hours after he said his office was investigating ‘all possibilities’ to stop the mandate.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced on March 2 that he would lift the mandate for the entire mask, and his order went into effect Wednesday. The order only limited the power to appoint district judges if cases in their jurisdictions rise for one consecutive week.
However, the city of Austin decided to do so. mandate masks carried within the businesses of Travis County.
The Hill reached out to Adler and Paxton’s offices for comment.