Dallas County Democratic Judge Emily Toblowsky signed an order denying the Plaintiff’s Action for Temporary Injunction at Thursday’s hearing in the Dallas County 298th Judicial District. The order reads, “Having considered the Motions, all responsive briefing, any arguments of counsel theron, and the evidence submitted, the Court determines that the Motions and relief requested therein should be DENIED.”
This ruling and hearing followed responses from officials of the City of Dallas and the State Fair that claim the City does not control the State Fair operations while the fair is going on. The hearing included testimony from the State Fair President, Mitchell Glieber, where he cited that the City of Dallas was not involved in the decision to ban weapons from the fair.
Defendants City of Dallas and Kimberly Bizor Tolbert’s Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Request for Temporary Injunction, filed September 13, had included details on the operations as well. The Opposition stated, “However, the City does not and has never run the Fair. Instead, the Fair is run entirely by the SFOT, a private nonprofit corporation governed by its own board of directors. No City employees, officials, or appointees are members of SFOT’s board. The City exercises no oversight over SFOT and has no approval rights for SFOT’s policies or actions.”
It has been reported that the Defendants claim the State Fair takes over operations of the park and all city buildings and walkways within the property during the dates of the fair each year. The Lease Agreement was a subject included in the Opposition as well. “In exchange for rent and other fee payments the SFOT is given exclusive possession and occupancy over a specified portion of Fair Park for the duration of the Fair.”
Following the hearing, the Attorney General's office filed a Notice of Accelerated Appeal. This notice identified that the appeal is being taken to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals in Austin.
Judge Toblowsky’s top 2024 contributor was Dallas County PAC – State and Local (CEC), a committee with George Soros as the top contributor (Transparency USA). The ruling made by Toblowsky on Thursday will allow the ban to remain in place at the State Fair, which opens on September 27, pending what happens with the Appeal.
We will continue to keep you informed as to what happens as it unfolds.
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