Appeals Court Rules Against Jefferson County in Lawsuit

(Kansas City) The State Appeals Court in Kansas City has ruled that five Missouri counties and those counties health centers, which includes Jefferson County, cannot intervene and appeal a lower court’s ruling that struck down state regulations about the control of infectious diseases.

The ruling involved St. Louis and Jackson Counties, along with the Cooper County Public Health Center administrator and the board of trustees for Jefferson and Livingston County Health Centers.

The counties asked to intervene after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt declined to appeal a Cole County Court ruling last November.

That ruling struck down certain state health regulations and declared COVID-19 health orders that were issued unilaterally by local health officials null and void.

After this week’s ruling, the counties say they are assessing their next steps.