Today’s update discusses over 2,000 newly reported cases within the state, which comes primarily from an increase in testing. Additionally, this update discusses a Northern Illinois District Court Judge holding Governor Pritzker’s order does not violate the constitution as it pertains to religious organizations.

HEALTH

 JUDICIAL RULINGS

  • Last week, a northern Illinois church filed a lawsuit against Governor Pritzker, alleging that the Governor’s stay-at-home order restricted religious freedom in violation of the Constitution. However, a U.S. District Judge disagreed. On Sunday, Judge John Z. Lee issued a 37-page decision finding the stay-at-home order constitutional. Although Judge Lee determined the case’s claims to be rendered partially moot, he did consider the claims on prior damages, ultimately denying those complaints. Judge Lee stated that the order does not target religious organizations, comparing churches more to schools and movie theaters, which have also remained closed, as opposed to grocery stores, which have been allowed to remain open. While this is a victory for Governor Pritzker, the district court notes that the decision is only determining the order’s constitutional requirements as they pertain to religious organizations, leaving open the question of whether the Governor has the authority to affect economic interests and residents’ ability to move about freely by the order. For more information, visit https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/3/21245936/stay-at-home-order-constitutional-us-district-court-john-lee-beloved-church-lena-illinois.
  • Southern Illinois state representative Darren Bailey who won a temporary restraining order last Monday allowing him to disregard the rules laid out in Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, is now trying to vacate the court’s temporary restraining order to reset the case in the same county “because of new findings.” These new findings include the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Governor’s guidance on enforcing the stay-at-home orders. For more information, visit https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article242430461.html.

 HeplerBroom attorney Emilee M. Bramstedt contributed to this blog post.