CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Gov. Pritzker’s plans to extend his stay-at-home order to May 30 hit a snag in court Monday when a southern Illinois judge tentatively sided with a lawmaker who argues the governor has exceeded his authority.
A judge in Clay County issued a temporary restraining order against Pritzker's stay-at-home directive. The move comes days after state Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, filed suit and complained rural Illinois regions should not be put under the same restrictions as the populous Chicago area during the pandemic. Bailey said Democrat Pritzker needs legislative support to extend his shelter-in-place mandate beyond the original 30 days.
Pritzker announced plans last week to prolong his stay-at-home order, which would have ended this Thursday, for another 30 days, with the easing of some restrictions.
Monday's ruling applies only to Rep. Bailey but presumably could entice other opponents of Pritzker's order to make the same arguments in court.
The governor blasted Bailey for putting Illinoisans at risk by potentially scuttling social-distancing measures that are based on science. He said everyone is in danger from the novel coronavirus, regardless of where they live.
“At best, no one is better off because of this ruling, and at worst, peoples’ health and safety will suffer tremendously,” Pritzker said Monday at his daily coronavirus briefing in Chicago.
It wasn't immediately clear what the ramifications will be. Pritzker said the Illinois Attorney General’s Office would respond in court on his administration's behalf.
In the meantime, Pritzker said, it’s important for local governments to stay the course in keeping non-essential businesses closed to help stem the spread of novel coronavirus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday reported 1,980 new cases of coronavirus across the state, including 50 deaths.
The total number of cases has grown to 45,883, with nearly 2,000 fatalities.