TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Feb 15, 2022

Knox County Law Director David Buuck yesterday told two county school board members that he will not hire private attorneys to fight a federal judge’s mask rule that was put in place last fall, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Board members Betsy Henderson and Kristi Kristy had written to Buuck last week, asking him to hire outside counsel to challenge the mandate. But, in his letter responding to their request, Buuck was direct in saying that he won't hire private attorneys to help the district lift a mask requirement in schools; that even if he did, it wouldn't be helpful; and that the two can't act on behalf of the board. Federal Judge Ronnie Greer last year ordered a mask mandate be put in place for Knox County schools while a lawsuit filed by families of students with disabilities against the governor and the Knox County Board of Education played out. In December, the school board’s request to pause the temporary mask requirement was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.