The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order on Wednesday, CNN reports.
The court ruled in a 4-3 decision that Evers’ order was "unlawful" and "unenforceable" after the Republican-led state legislature sued to revoke the order.
The court ruled that Evers overstepped his authority when the Department of Health extended the stay-at-home order until May 26.
The court ruled that "an agency cannot confer on itself the power to dictate the lives of law-abiding individuals as comprehensively as the order does without reaching beyond the executive branch's authority."
Republicans celebrate win:
The ruling came after the Republican legislature argued that the state would “be in shambles” if the order was left in place.
Republican leaders said in a statement that the lawsuit was out of "immense frustration regarding the extension" of the order and that Evers "has denied the people a voice through this unprecedented administrative overreach."
"Unfortunately, that leaves the legislature no choice but to ask the Supreme Court to rein in this obvious abuse of power," they said. "Wisconsinites deserve certainty, transparency, and a plan to end the constant stream of executive orders that are eroding both the economy and their liberty even as the state is clearly seeing a decline in Covid infections."
President Trump called the decision a “win.”
"The people want to get on with their lives. The place is bustling!" Trump tweeted.
Evers warns of chaos:
Evers told CNN that the ruling put the state “into chaos.”
"Now we have no plan and no protections for the people of Wisconsin," Evers said. "When you have more people in a small space -- I don't care if it's bars, restaurants or your home -- you're going to be able to spread the virus. And so now, today, thanks to the Republican legislators who convinced four Supreme Court justices to not look at the law but look at their political careers I guess -- it's a bad day for Wisconsin."
"It's the wild west," he added.
