Michigan Supreme Court strikes down Gretchen Whitmer's coronavirus orders

[Valin]

Washington Examiner

Anthony Leonardi

October 02, 2020 07:29 PM

Michigan's Supreme Court said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's coronavirus executive restrictions violated the state's constitution.

On Friday, the state's high court ruled in a 4-3 decision that the Democratic governor did not have the power to continue its restrictions under two laws passed in 1976 and 1945, describing the act as an "unlawful delegation of legislative power to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution."

"Accordingly, the executive orders issued by the Governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic now lack any basis under Michigan law," the ruling reads.

It notes a wide variety of businesses that had to close as a result of the orders, including "restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, clubs, hookah bars, cigar bars, vaping lounges, barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, schools, churches, theaters, cinemas, libraries, museums, gymnasiums, fitness centers, public swimming pools, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spas, casinos, and racetracks."

(Snip)