A hearing involving county residents who are against the statewide school mask mandate has been delayed slightly.

In lieu of the Thursday hearing, the Commonwealth Court has opted to accept briefs from both sides of the legal battle.

“We agreed to submit the legal questions in the case by brief,” said attorney Thomas King III of Butler, who represents the plaintiffs.

Seven of the nine parents listed as plaintiffs, not including two state legislators, are Butler County residents whose children attend schools in the Butler and Slippery Rock area school districts.

King will file a brief by Thursday. The Attorney General's Office representing the defendants, including Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam, will file its own brief by Sept. 23.

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