Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is testifying in federal court this afternoon. Bar owners brought the case in Lafayette.
The plaintiffs are challenging Edwards' authority to close bars, mandate face masks in public and institute social distancing measures.
They claim the actions are unconstitutional.
The governor responds by pointing out that Louisiana’s case growth has slowed in the weeks since this order that closed bars, mandated face masks and limited the size of social gatherings.
"Nearly 20 percent of known outbreaks that have been traced by the Louisiana Department of Health have been linked to bars," Edwards' office stated in a news release. "The White House Coronavirus Task Force recommends bar closures for states like Louisiana that are in the 'red zone' for new cases and test positivity."
U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays is hearing the case.