LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has won the first round in her court battle with state lawmakers.
A Michigan court is upholding Whitmer’s power to extend COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. A ruling Thursday by Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stevens said Whitmer does have the authority to extend the State of Emergency.
The ruling rejects a Republican lawsuit that claimed Whitmer doesn’t have the authority to extend without approval from lawmakers.
Following the ruling, the governor’s office released a statement saying the decision “recognizes that the governor’s actions to save lives are lawful and her orders remain in place,”
Lawmakers plan to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.
(reporting from John Abrahamsen and Michael Arney-TTWN Media Networks Inc.)
