A Clay County judge has ruled in favor of southern Illinois State Representative Darren Bailey.
The republican lawmaker's lawsuit claimed Governor J-B Pritzker did not have the power to keep the state under a stay at home order and disaster proclamation. The suit argued Illinois’ Emergency Management Act only allows Pritzker to use emergency powers for a short time, then the state legislature must step in.
Soon after finding out about the judge's ruling during Monday's daily briefing, Pritzker didn't hold back in his disdain for the ruling.
"Representative Darren Bailey's decision to take the courts to try and dismantle public health directives designed to keep people safe is an insult to all Illinoisans who have been lost during this COVID-19 crisis. It's a danger to millions of people who may get ill because of his recklessness."
Pritzker said his legal team will fight the judge's ruling and issue new public health directives in response to the judge's ruling...but he hopes residents will stay the course.
"At this time I strongly encourage all municipal level leaders as well as the people of Illinois who are our strongest weapon against this virus to follow the advice of our scientists here in Illinois and across the nation and continue to follow the guidelines of our Stay at Home Order."
