A federal appeals panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled a mask mandate for Knox County Schools, implemented by a federal judge earlier this year, must remain in place.
The three judges denied an attempt by the Knox County Board of Education to pause the mandate while the case works its way through the federal judiciary.
While the school system argued its remote learning opportunities are justifiable accommodations for individuals with high susceptibility to COVID-19, the court did not agree.
“Like the district court, we are not persuaded that virtual schooling is a reasonable alternative to universal masking,” the appeals court wrote, according to a report from the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Previously, U.S. District Judge J. Ronnie Greer decided that the school system must require students to wear face coverings, throwing out an executive order from Governor Lee that allowed parents to opt out of the regulation.
After the decision, Lee and the board of education requested a temporary pause, which Greer also denied.
“The Knox County Board of Education and Governor Lee do not meet their burden of demonstrating that a stay of the preliminary injunction is appropriate pending appeal. The Knox County Board of Education’s Motion to Stay Injunction Pending Appeal [Doc. 43] and Governor Bill Lee’s Motion for Stay Pending Appeal [Doc. 49] are therefore Denied,” the ruled detailed.
Similar rulings have been issued in Middle and West Tennessee, with multiple Tennessee officials critiquing the decisions.
“The injunction was misguided and the epitome of judicial overreach,” said Senate Leader Jack Johnson, following the ruling in Middle Tennessee. “Hopefully this injunction will be temporary as the judge looks at the legislation in its entirety, including provisions to accommodate ADA students and others with special needs. The legislation provides for parental choice regarding whether or not their children should wear a mask, while accommodating those who have special needs. ”
— — —
Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
