(Reuters) – A state appeals court ruled yesterday in favour of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, issuing a stay in a case that effectively reinstates his ban on mask mandates in the state’s public schools to the dismay of many parents and teachers.
Florida’s First District Court of Appeals reinstated a stay that was lifted by Circuit Judge John Cooper, who earlier ruled that the state does not have the authority to ban mandates in a case brought by a group of parents.
“No surprise here – the 1st DCA has restored the right of parents to make the best decisions for their children,” DeSantis wrote in a Tweet. “I will continue to fight for parents’ rights.”
Florida is one of several U.S. states where Republican governors like DeSantis have sought to prevent local governments and school districts from mandating masks, in what has become a politicized tussle over COVID-19 precautions.
