Arizona Supreme Court to hear case on school mask ban

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Arizona Supreme Court will hear a case about[ the state’s ban on school mask mandates.
• A judge struck down budget provisions that ban mask and vaccine mandates, as well as the teaching of critical race theory.
• The ruling comes as other Red states see setbacks on similar bans on school mask mandates.

The Arizona Supreme Court has agreed to a case regarding the state’s ban on school mask mandates.

In a brief order, the court scheduled oral arguments in the case regarding the mask ban and other measures that had been deemed unconstitutional by a lower court for Nov. 2.

Earlier this week, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper struck down budget provisions banning mask and vaccine mandates, as well as the teaching of critical race theory, according to NPR affiliate KJZZ.

Cooper mainly took issue with how the measures were passed, saying that the budget is supposed to determine how state dollars are spent. She also noted that the titles of bills have to accurately reflect their contents, the outlet reported.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) appealed the ruling directly to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, bypassing the Court of the Appeals. The justices initially turned down a request to stay Cooper’s ruling.

In a statement on Friday, Brnovich said he was “pleased” that the court agreed to hear the case.

“I am pleased the Arizona Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction in the case because Arizonans deserve clarity as soon as possible,” Brnovich said. “The legislature has spoken – there is no place for Critical Race Theory or vaccine mandates in our schools.”

According to The Associated Press, at least 29 school districts in Arizona issued mask mandates prior to the laws going into effect. After Cooper’s ruling, some districts immediately extended the mandates.

The ruling comes as other GOP-led states see setbacks on similar bans on school mask mandates.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in South Carolina blocked the state’s ban on school mask mandates, finding that the provision discriminated against students with disabilities.

Source: The Hill