Today, the 4th Court of Appeals denied Governor Abbott's petition for writ of mandamus, seeking to direct Judge Antonia Arteaga to vacate her temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting the Governor from interfering with local county officials' determinations to require masks in public facilities and schools.
To read the per curiam opinion, click here. The per curiam denial does not reflect the court's reasoning, other than that the Governor failed to show his entitlement to relief.
Because the TRO is only in effect until Monday, the petition for writ of mandamus was likely to become moot before the court could fully consider the merits. The 4th Court's denial tees the issue up for resolution by the Supreme Court of Texas, unless the matter becomes moot.