Judge Blocks AZ Laws Prohibiting School, City Mask Mandates

An Arizona judge has ruled that Governor Doug Ducey’s ban on school mask mandates is unconstitutional. The sweeping ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper found that the Legislature violated the Arizona Constitution by including numerous policy issues, including a ban on school mask mandates, in the recently approved multi-billion dollar state budget. Judge Cooper wrote that it was unlawful “to enact laws prohibiting mask mandates, regulating school curriculum or authorizing special interest projects unrelated to the budget or budget reconciliation.” School districts may now keep previous mask mandates in place and other schools now have the authority to create their own policies to protect students and staff against COVID-19.