DeSantis appeals to reinstate stay on school masking mandate ruling

On August 27th, Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper ruled against FL Governor Ron DeSantis’ ban on school masking mandates – the State immediately filed an appeal, initiating an automatic stay on the ruling.

On Wednesday, Judge Cooper overruled the automatic stay, adding that the State must lift the ban on school masking mandates during the appeal process.

Cooper said, “We are not in normal times. We are in a pandemic. We have children that can’t be protected by vaccination. Children are at risk, and they provide at least some protection by masking.”

Following the judgment, DeSantis filed an emergency appeal in the First Circuit Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, requesting restoration of the automatic stay on masking mandates pending completion of the previous appeal.

According to the emergency appeal, the required safety in schools and public areas is a political question reserved for publicly accountable elected representatives.