MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge has refused to block Alabama’s mask mandate and other state health orders during the pandemic.
U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins on Tuesday refused to grant the temporary restraining order requested by the plaintiffs represented by former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.
Watkins said there was no urgency since the health orders were first issued this spring and the mask order followed in July. The case will go forward.
Watkins asked the two sides to file briefs on whether the case should be dismissed. Gov. Kay Ivey last week extended the state mask order through Nov. 8.