Coronavirus Update: Judge overturns Illinois stay-at-home order
By Jim Hagerty
Reporter
CLAY COUNTY, Ill. – A Clay County judge on Monday granted a restraining order to temporarily block Illinois’stay-at-home order extension that’s set to start May 1.
Judge Michael McHaney’s ruling is in response to a lawsuit brought by Illinois Rep. Darren Bailey (R), which claims Gov. J.B. Pritzker exceeded his authority when he announced he would extend the order until the end of May.
Monday’s ruling keeps the current stay-at-home edict in place. Pritzker said during his daily press briefing that his office and the Illinois Attorney General will appeal the decision and ask for a stay. If the state is granted a stay, the stay-at-home order extension would commence Friday as planned pending a hearing.
If a judge does grant the state a stay of Monday’s ruling, businesses could be re-opening at will, unless they’re blocked by officials at the local level.