A Texas judge has sided with the city of Austin in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) lawsuit over the city’s masks warrant.
Judge Lora Livingston on Friday rejected the granting of a provisional order to the state, according to NBC affiliate, KXAN.
The ruling keeps the warrant in force for at least two more weeks and another hearing is set for March 26, KXAN reports. Livingston could change his sentence after hearing more arguments.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler praised the ruling on Twitter and said, “Good news! This morning we learned that the Austin mask rules will remain in effect for the next two weeks. We will return to court on March 26. ”
“No matter what happens, we will continue to be guided by doctors and data. Masking works, “he tweeted.
Good news! This morning we learned that the Austin mask rules will remain in effect for the next two weeks. We return to court on March 26th.
Whatever happens, we will continue to be guided by doctors and data. Masking works. #MaskUpATX pic.twitter.com/tD4Gn6xPpk
– Mayor Adler | wear a mask. (@MayorAdler) March 12, 2021
Travis County Judge Andy Brown also shared the sentence on Twitter.
“Following today’s court hearing, the requirement to wear masks in Travis County and Austin businesses remains in effect,” Brown tweeted. “Thanks to our county attorney [Delia Garcia] and team to fight to keep our community safe. ”
Thanks to our county attorney @DGTCAttorney and team to fight to keep our community safe
– Travis County Judge Andy Brown (@TravisCoJudge) March 12, 2021
Paxton filed a lawsuit against Adler, Brown and interim Austin medical director and health authority Mark Escott on Thursday over the city’s decision to keep his local mask warrant in place after the restrictions were lifted. throughout the state.
The Attorney General Adler threatened with a lawsuit on Wednesday if the warrant was not removed from the mask, hours after he said his office was studying “all available avenues” to stop the warrant.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced on March 2 that he was lifting the state mask mandate and his order went into effect Wednesday. The order restricted the power to impose restrictions on county judges only if the cases in their jurisdictions increased for one consecutive week.
The city of Austin, however, has decided mandate masks to take within the enterprises of the county of Travis.
The Hill has contacted the Adler and Paxton offices for comment.