Florida school mask debate headed for appeals court battle

(Lynne Sladky, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The battle over mask requirements in Florida schools is headed for a new legal phase following an appeal by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of a judge’s ruling that a blanket ban on mask mandates exceeds the state’s authority.

The case heads next to the 15 judges on the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee.

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The issue is whether the Parents Bill of Rights law means parents must decide if their child wears a mask or permits a school board to impose a broad mask requirement.

A Leon County judge is being asked to immediately lift an automatic stay that effectively allows enforcement of the ban to continue.

SEE THE LEON COUNTY JUDGE’S FINAL JUDGMENT BELOW: