UPDATE: Federal judge in Greeneville upholds decision against Lee’s mask opt-out for parents in Knox County

US District Court Judge Ronnie Greer upheld a previous ban on Gov. Bill Lee’s opt-out clause for mask mandates in an opinion issued from Greeneville.

Greer said just a few medical exemptions would be allowed under the mask rule in Knox County. Greer’s decision last month was one of three federal courts to reject Lee’s call for parental options for mask-wearing during the pandemic.

Greer also called Knox County leaders to call for relief from the court “meritless” and “disingenuous.”

(IMAGE: Associated Press)