Springfield, IL(WICS/WRSP) — A Clay County Circuit Court Judge ruled Thursday, July 2, in favor of state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) and his claim that Governor JB Pritzker exceeded his legal authority with a stay at home order that extended beyond thirty days.
“This is a victory for freedom, this is a victory for the people of Illinois. This is what we stand for as a country, this is it,” Rep. Bailey said just moments after the ruling.
Rep. Bailey’s lawyer, Thomas DeVore, says their case focused on individuals being allowed to make their own health decisions in relation to COVID-19.
“Any safety precautions, guidelines that are prudent, people can make those decisions for themselves without having to be dictated by the Executive Branch what they can and can’t do,” DeVore said.
Political analysts are now asking whether an Illinois governor has the legal authority to issue an executive order during an emergency that extends beyond thirty days.
“If the state Supreme Court were to say everything Governor Pritzker has done is perfectly reasonable and legitimate, then all governors in the future would have those powers,” retired political science professor Kent Redfield said.
Redfield says if a higher court does not rule in favor of an appeal of the ruling by Gov. Pritzker, then the Illinois General Assembly will have to grant future governors that power.
Redfield also says it is unclear whether the current COVID-19 guidelines have been nullified.
