Judge Branick writes letter to citizens explaining mask order

[Midnightwalk]

[link:https://kfdm.com/news/local/judge-branick-writes-letter-to-citizens-explaining-mask-order|]

I recognized when I entered the mandatory mask order that there would be people who would not like it. What I didn’t expect was the level of pure hatred and profanity laden messages that would make a sailor blush. That’s okay, it comes with the territory. What has been most disappointing to me has been the level of insistence by many that my orders are a direct affront to their constitutional rights. The U.S. Supreme Court, since 1794, after the Whiskey Rebellion, and times since has repeatedly held that these types of orders are allowed in certain circumstances and are, in fact, constitutional. Those who say otherwise are misinformed or are depending on Natural law, not Constitutional law. I have not asked people to lay down their arms, surrender their right to free speech or to be subject to having soldiers quartered in their homes, I’ve asked them to suffer the inconvenience of placing a 4x6” piece of material over their mouth and nose when in a business to protect their friends and neighbors. Individuals who seem to have no problem with a restaurant requiring shoes and a shirt go ballistic over a business asking them to wear a mask.

Eighty years ago, the greatest generation planted victory gardens, collected tin, rubber and steel, had food ration books and endured black outs, all to support the war effort. Their sacrifices were significantly more weighty than the inconvenience the present order requires. I want to thank a fellow county judge for reminding me of this. Today, a small minority is screaming that this is some kind of communist plot to overthrow the nation. When did it happen that we all became so focused on our rights and not our obligations to our fellow man and woman? Jesus said “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. I’m not directing anyone to lay down their life. Galatians 6:2 says “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ”. I love you, because that is what Christ teaches us to do.

I wear a mask not because I am afraid but because it is one way of showing that I care about my neighbors. There is a lot we don’t know about COVID-19 but all the evidence suggests that wearing a mask helps to prevent the spread of the virus. If wearing a mask prevents one person from dying, then isn’t it worth the minor inconvenience? If wearing a mask helps us get our country and economy back to normal, then isn’t it our patriotic duty to do so?” I received this in an email from an Orange County resident. It is a note he keeps in his pocket which he gives to people who make snide remarks about his wearing a mask in stores.

Based on my conversations with numerous physicians, directives from the president of the Texas Medical Association, the thoughts of the head of the Department of state health services, and many others in the medical field, masks can prevent the spread of the virus. Might we find out next year after peer reviewed studies that such is not the case? Can I find a YouTube video from an OSHA inspector that supports the opposite view? Yes to both questions. But we are in the midst of the largest spread that we have seen thus far, and to prevent another shutdown of “nonessential” businesses and to keep our hospital system from becoming overwhelmed I am acting on the best available information. Those “nonessential” businesses have families to feed and mortgages to pay and I want them to be able to do that without having to worry if they are at some point going to have to depend on unemployment benefits, if they are even available to them. I will lift the order as soon as I possibly can, but in the meantime I pray for your cooperation.

Jeff Branick

County Judge

Jefferson County Courthouse

Great letter. Excellent points. I don't think it will reach the people attacking him and his order.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Pointing out how patriotism USED TO MEAN pulling together to overcome adversity like Hitler

now it means to OWN the libs even if that means killing everybody

[elleng]

2. 'The U.S. Supreme Court, since 1794, after the Whiskey Rebellion, and times since

has repeatedly held that these types of orders are allowed in certain circumstances and are, in fact, constitutional. Those who say otherwise are misinformed.'

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Tell him thank you.... [e-mail]

[e-mail]

[samnsara]

4. I consider myself atheist but in todays paper, a letter in the religious section..

...caught my eye. It was entitled: 'Love Thy Neighbor..Wear a Mask'. Since I'm bored these days I even read the want ads. So, I read it and it was wonderful. I didn't know what the bible passages were he kept referring to, but the general idea was..Love Thy Neighbor.. Wear a Mask. So simple.

I'm glad to see someone practicing what they preach for once.

[Dustlawyer]

5. That is my county judge. I read this in the morning in the local paper.

This is why I told everyone that Gov. Abbott left restrictions to the mayors and county judges after taking away their ability to impose restrictions after he opened the state early. Abbott knew the Repugs would be pissed so he left it to the cities and counties to take the heat.

Judge Branick used to be a Democrat but switched to be able to stay in office. He was always a conservative though, but not one of the modern ones. He was a partner in a law firm with my boss for years.

Our area 90 miles East of Houston used to be mainly Democrats, but with Reagan it started to change. Now we are rabid red with idiots still believing everything Trump says.

[Luz]

17. My hometown. I remember when the area was heavy dem.

That's when our dads had good refinery jobs and our economy was growing. It was a nice place to live.
After the 80's they started to go repub and have been swirling in the toilet since.
Glad to see someone trying to talk sence into them, but I can already imagine how this was received by the yokels.

[dhill926]

6. well done, judge...

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Wonderful letter. One that in today's times, should not had been required to write, being that...

the judge's conclusions are spot on (care about our neighbors, keep our hospitals available for all (so as to not overwhelm them), etc.).

I also applaud his correcting others in their mistaken opinion that their constitutional rights are being trampled.

Mr. Branick's wise words indeed. Thanks for sharing this w/ us on DU.

snip...
Today, a small minority is screaming that this is some kind of communist plot to overthrow the nation. When did it happen that we all became so focused on our rights and not our obligations to our fellow man and woman? Jesus said “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. I’m not directing anyone to lay down their life. Galatians 6:2 says “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ”. I love you, because that is what Christ teaches us to do.
snip...

[Mr.Bill]

8. I basically agree with the judge.

I know he is in Texas and all that, but it makes me cringe a little bit when a judge quotes from the bible to support a legal decision. If it creates a favorable response in his area, though I see why he did it.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

9. Since some of those words had three or more syllables,

I am sure the intended audience will miss it. And he probably lost the evangelicals by accurately quoting the Bible.
I would like to see the " profanity laden messages". I'm no sailor and I haven't blushed in years.

[bringthePaine]

10. cogent, succinct, and direct - a most welcome rendering of superbly constructed reasoning

[AllyCat]

11. It won't. Too many words. Some are big words.

[niyad]

12. Excellent letter. Will not reach its intended audience.

I have a short response ready if some covidiot tries to shame me for my mask by sneering, "what's the matter? You scared?" "No. I wear a mask because I am smart and caring, unlike you, who are stupid and selfish"

Either that, or. My 6ft oak staff.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. At this point I'm praying for understanding.

I just don't get those who have no regard for anyone but themselves. I feel sorry for their children, who probably have more compassionate understanding than their parents and are forced to go without masks, allowed no say so in the matter, because they're children. I'd call that child abuse/neglect. At the very least I expect some of those children are embarrassed, possibly even terrorized by their parent's behavior.

Mean people definitely suck but stupid mean people leave me sad and bewildered.

[Canoe52]

14. Yeah, good luck with that, Judge, but the stoopids are getting more rabid out there.

[betsuni]

15. This is what happens when people are brainwashed to believe an all-powerful liberal elite

is behind everything and will stop at nothing to destroy their way of life. All experts are snobby intellectuals telling them what to do.

Watching some Trump supporters interviewed the other day, it was strange that everything was the government's fault, one of them said "the government and liberals," even though their state and federal governments are controlled by Republicans. It's a religious belief. They will give up everything for their religion, as martyrs do.

[live love laugh]

16. Too bad Trump cult members can't/don't read nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

18. My boss and his wife think the mask requirement violates their Constitutional rights

Her especially. I said that if everyone wearing masks in public saved just one life, it was worth it.

She said God already knows when and how everyone will die, so wearing masks is pointless, but I bet she wears a seatbelt.

She also thinks people wearing masks are getting sick from lack of oxygen and breathing in their own carbon dioxide. I wanted to tell her that oxygen and carbon monoxide molecules were far smaller than the virus, but why bother?