Judge upholds schools’ right to mask mandate

A Gwinnett County Superior Court judge recently ruled against parents who sued to strike down the face mask mandate in Gwinnett County Public Schools.

As of Tuesday, the school district, Georgia’s largest, maintains a mask requirement in schools and other district facilities.

Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Deborah R. Fluker ruled Oct. 29 that the school district had sovereign immunity from the parents’ lawsuit. The Georgia Constitution gives countywide school districts sovereign immunity from legal claims and injunctions absent a waiver, Fluker’s order said.

Sloan Roach, a Gwinnett schools spokeswoman, said in a statement, “The school district remains committed to defending its authority and obligation to follow public health guidance to protect our students and staff.”

Mitch Skandalakis, the attorney representing four parents who sued the school district, said he planned to file a motion for reconsideration.

“We’re going to try to pull out all stops and see this thing through,” Skandalakis said. “We think the court has made a mistake.”