A Florida judge decided on Friday that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ prohibition on school mask mandates was unconstitutional, finding that the Republican governor had overstepped his jurisdiction.
In a victory for a group of parents who filed a lawsuit, Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper declared DeSantis’ executive order illegal and ruled the governor could not execute it.
Instead of local school districts making the choice, the governor’s executive order enabled parents to determine whether or not their children should wear masks to school.
Cooper said that government measures essential to safeguard public health are excluded from the “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” a new Florida law that DeSantis and others contended granted parents final power.
The governor’s office said the state plans to appeal the ruling.
