PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Pike County Board of Education, which sought to overturn a school mask mandate.

Mikey Ratliff, father of a Pike County student, and Levi Newsom filed the lawsuit against the board, Supt. Reed Adkins and school board members back in October. They alleged that the mandate that students wear face masks in class to combat COVID-19 was illegal and unconstitutional.

That mandate has since been rescinded, as case numbers have dropped sharply. U.S. District Judge Henry Wilhoit said that now makes the case moot, but he went one step further when issuing his dismissal. The judge also wrote that Ratliff and Newsom had not demonstrated any harm that the mandate could have caused.

The complaint has now been dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be re-filed.