The Texas Supreme Court denied a request from Attorney General Ken Paxton to undo a Travis County judge's temporary restraining orders that allow local mask mandates.
In its ruling Thursday, the court said Paxton did not have a compelling reason to bypass the appeals process and go straight to the high court.
"That may be only a temporary reprieve for Austin; the state can now ask the Austin-based court of appeals for the same relief and go back to the Supreme Court if they lose," UT law professor Steven Vladeck told KUT. "But it’s a reprieve nonetheless.
Paxton had filed a request to halt the temporary restraining orders, which allowed mask mandates in several counties and school districts. The mandates go against an executive order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott that prohibits local officials from instituting them.
Local governments and school districts across Texas have defied the governor's order, citing soaring rates of COVID cases and hospitalizations due to the delta variant. ICU capacity in many hospitals has also reached dangerously low levels.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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