Georgia's governor, Atlanta's mayor to square off in court on mask wearing [View all]

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia judge is scheduled on Tuesday to hear arguments in an emergency motion brought by Governor Brian Kemp to stop the city of Atlanta from enforcing a mandate that people wear masks in public to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

But in a late night legal move, the hearing that was set for 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) Tuesday was moved to 2 p.m. so the two parties can attempt binding mediation starting at 8:30 a.m., according to a filing in Fulton County Superior Court.

Local media station WSB-TV reported that the governor plans to withdraw the request for the emergency hearing. That could not be confirmed by Reuters late on Monday and a representative for the governor was not immediately available.

The motion, pending before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jane Barwick, asks the court to halt Atlanta’s enforcement efforts while a lawsuit works its way through the courts.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-georgia/georgias-governor-atlantas-mayor-to-square-off-in-court-on-mask-wearing-idUSKCN24T0H3