FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WZTV) — A federal judge has ruled Williamson County Schools and the Franklin Special School District can enforce mask mandates in their school systems, blocking Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order allowing parents to opt their kids out of wearing face coverings.
According to court documents, Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw’s ruling prohibits Gov. Lee from implementing Executive Order 84 in either district. The injunction goes until Oct. 5.
“[The injunction] stops everything in place and requires that they enforce it,” said Nashville Attorney David Raybin. “But there has to be a full-blown hearing on Oct 5. The judge could potentially change his mind or make the order permanent.”
On Monday night, WCS board members voted to extend the mask requirement until mid-January.
“This case is unusually postured,” Raybin added. “Because the school and the county want to enforce the mask mandate, but they are concerned about doing it because of the governor’s order. If the school was against it, and only the children wanted it, this case would be postured much more differently.”
Other judges ruled the same thing for the Knox County and Shelby County districts.
