Ruling On Governor Whitmer’s State Of Emergency Expected This Week

A ruling on Governor Whitmer’s extension of her “State of Emergency” could come this week.

Michigan’s House and Senate took the Governor to court, saying Governor Whitmer has gone against the legislature’s objections, and if this continues, allows the Governor limitless, unilateral, temporally unbounded authority, as long as the Governor wishes.

Lawyer for the republican led legislature Michael Williams claim came from a teleconference hearing with Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens.

Lawyers representing republican lawmakers are asking Judge Stephens to rule the extension invalid, claiming Whitmer did not follow the law, as enacted by the legislature.

Under the current emergency order, Whitmer has issued dozens of executive orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a stay-at-home order, closing certain sectors of the economy and limiting people’s movement outside their residences.

These orders have been seen as some of the toughest in the nation, despite the fact she has recently eased some of them.

The orders have also been met with protests at the state capitol. 

House Speaker Lee Chatfield said “Only the legislature has the power to extend the state of emergency.”