DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — A judge has issued an early blow to the Douglas County Health Department in a lawsuit that alleges the agency was illegally formed and its order hollowing out mask requirements is illegitimate, in the latest burst of courtroom drama in a county divided over masking and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawsuit was filed in early January by a Montessori school director and a salon owner, both of whom wanted to keep universal mask orders but were barred from doing so by the county's newly formed health department. In one of its first acts, the health department's board voted in early October to require any entity with mask requirements to allow for exemptions, an order that triggered an immediate and successful legal challenge by the Douglas County School District.
District Judge Jeffrey Holmes has now handed the Montessori school and salon an early victory: On Friday, he temporarily blocked the health department from enforcing its mask-loosening order, effectively clearing the way for any entity in the county to institute a universal mask requirement for the time being, while the rest of the case is litigated.
RELATED: Ruling awaited on lawsuit alleging Dougco school board directors violated open meeting laws
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER for top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
