The Reporter has received, and observed, communications alluding to the current Shelter-In-Place situation in Rockdale and Milam County as “martial law.”
That represents a misunderstanding of what martial law actually is.
Martial law is basically the replacement of civil rule with a military authority.
It cannot be invoked by a county or city, only by the President of the United States or Congress.
Martial law can also be invoked by state governors if their state constitutions authorize that power. The Texas Constitution does, but Gov. Greg Abbott has not discussed that possibility.
Shelter-In-Place in Rockdale and Milam County has been invoked by County Judge Steve Young and Mayor John King using Texas Government Code 418:108.
Nationwide martial law has only been instituted once in U. S. history, during the Civil War.—M.B.
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