Won preliminary injunction enforcing county mask mandates in a private school.

WTO lawyers won a preliminary injunction—following a three-day hearing—for Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) requiring private schools to comply with the county-wide school mask mandate and public health inspections. The ruling attracted considerable local media attention. 

The ruling enforces a JCPH public health order requiring all people in schools in Jefferson County to wear masks inside school buildings due to the unique vulnerability of the student population. The injunction will remain in place until the public health order is altered or the end of the 2021-2022 school year. 

The case arose following reports that three independent schools were not complying with the mask mandate and had refused to allow unannounced public health inspections. Two of the schools were dismissed from the litigation during the hearing after they agreed to allow the inspections. The ruling enforces the public health order against the remaining school. 

WTO’s efforts to enforce this public health order will help protect over 100,000 unvaccinated students in Jefferson County, as well as help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others in the community. Additionally, the ruling will help increase the chances that Jefferson County schools remain in person during the 2021-2022 school year.