Minnesota Supreme Court Rules State COVID Emergency Declaration Was Lawful

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that a COVID-19-era emergency declaration previously issued by Gov. Tim Walz was constitutional.

The governor’s emergency was rescinded years ago, but lawsuits have been filed on whether the order was lawfully issued. On May 10, the court rejected a lawsuit that was filed on behalf of Minnesota residents and business owners who had contended that the order was unconstitutional.

“The breadth of authority granted to the Governor under the Act is great, but so is the need of the executive branch to respond quickly in times of crisis,” Justice Gordon Moore wrote for the court. “A delicate balance must be struck to ensure that Minnesotans are protected from both government overreach and emergent threats to their health.”

Chief Justice Natalie Hudson as well as Justices Margaret Chutich, Anne McKeig, and Paul Thissen signed onto Justice Moore’s opinion. Justice G. Barry Anderson wrote a concurrence and mostly agreed with Justice Moore’s rationale, while Justice Karl Procaccini didn’t partake in the decision because he was appointed by the governor and previously worked for him.

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