The State of Michigan’s Attorney General has announced she will not enforce any executive orders issued by the state’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, after the Michigan Supreme Court rules Whitmer exceeded her authority.
“In light of the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday, the Attorney General will no longer enforce the governor’s executive orders through criminal prosecution,” Ryan Jarvi, press secretary for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement.
AG Press Secretary Issues Statement Regarding Michigan Supreme Court's Recent Decision: pic.twitter.com/Wajzkuvr5I
— Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (@MIAttyGen) October 4, 2020
Nessel decided to decline prosecutions related to Whitmer’s executive orders after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled last week that she illegally extended a state of emergency without the proper authority.
The Governor criticized the ruling, calling the decision “deeply disappointing.” Whitmer said that many of her draconian orders will survive under “alternative sources of authority.”
Whitmer extended the state of emergency through the end of October, even as the number of COVID cases sharply declined.
“The governor had no right to extend the state of emergency over the Legislature’s objection. Our Constitution matters, and this was a big win for our democratic process,” Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield said in a statement.
Several Michigan law enforcement officials have refused to enforce Whitmer’s stay-at-home order and other mandates.
“While we understand her desire to protect the public, we question some restrictions she has imposed as overstepping her executive authority,” four northern Michigan sheriffs wrote in a joint statement earlier this Spring.
