Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement Tuesday that he is opening Texas up 100% and removing COVID-19 restrictions in the state has no impact on the new normal of video-conference hearings and delayed jury trials in the Rio Grande Valley.
The governor’s order targeted the business community by allowing counties where COVID-19 hospitalizations are not above 15% for longer than seven consecutive days to operate without any pandemic restrictions. Abbott also lifted the statewide mask mandate.
And the Texas Tribune reported after the announcement that Abbott’s decision also impacted sporting events, concerts and similar events.
His announcement, however, left professionals in other fields — like the judiciary — with questions.
The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, a nonprofit that provides continuing professional education and training for municipal judges and court personnel, said in a blog post following the announcement that the new order raised questions about the effect, if any, on court operations.
“Thankfully, the Office of Court Administration quickly sent out COVID Update #20,” the post stated.
In that update, which the nonprofit published online, David Slayton, administration director of the Office of Court Administration, noted that court personnel had reached out to him about Abbott’s order.
And in short, Slayton explains it has no impact — for the time being.
“Since the Governor did not rescind the disaster declaration, the Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders remain in effect until the Supreme Court rescinds, amends, or allows the orders to expire. The Court’s current general emergency order, the 33rd Emergency Order, is currently set to expire on April 1 unless extended. As has been typical during the pandemic, the Court reviews its emergency orders regularly and was already planning on doing so for the 33rd Emergency Order in the coming days,” Slayton wrote.
Slayton did say the Supreme Court will likely issue another order soon.
“We anticipate the Court will issue another general emergency order soon, and OCA will revise its Guidance to reflect any changes required by the order at that time,” Slayton wrote.
These orders have been in place for nearly a year now.
Then there’s the mask mandate.
When asked whether people will still be required to wear a face mask in county facilities, like the courthouse, county spokesman Carlos Sanchez said the commissioner’s court mask mandate will remain in effect.
“The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court voted to make masks mandatory for all in all county buildings,” Sanchez said. “That order remains in effect and would take a new vote of Commissioners Court to change.”
