BOONE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The legal battle continues over Governor Andy Beshear's executive orders regarding the coronavirus pandemic. While the governor says the orders are necessary to end the spread of the virus, Attorney General Daniel Cameron filed a motion in Boone County Circuit Court to put a stop to them, claiming they're unconstitutional.
The motion reads in part- "Governor Beshear has given little public explanation for the basis of the vast array of executive orders and directives that govern important aspects of the lives of Kentucky’s citizens."
Thursday night, a circuit court judge granted a temporary injunction against several of the executive orders. This allows daycare ratios to increase from 10 kids to 15 for every teacher and restaurants to allow social distancing at three feet back-to-back.
In response, here's what Governor Beshear had to say, "Late last night the Boone Circuit Court judge indicated he would void all of the orders the Governor has issued to keep us safe. We are awaiting a written order and will be ready to take further action. The lives of many Kentuckians are on the line.”
After last night's decision, Attorney General Daniel Cameron made this statement via Twitter:
My statement regarding the hearing in Boone Circuit Court: pic.twitter.com/akjTZxIaGy
— Attorney General Daniel Cameron (@kyoag) July 17, 2020
As for the order requiring Kentuckians to wear masks in public, Attorney Chris Wiest argued there should not be any fines, as most businesses currently operate in good faith.
Cameron has said his push back is not about the policies themselves, but about making sure the governor follows the law. He questions if Beshear overstepped his authority when putting the executive orders into place.
At his briefing yesterday, governor Beshear said without his orders, more Kentuckians will die.
"The request that's made wants to eliminate every single ability to enforce any of the healthy at work requirements. Any of them. No capacity limits anywhere. Fill up a stadium, full bar all the way out, you know people in the streets. We know how deadly that can be and it's just plain irresponsible,” said Beshear.
Governor Beshear says he wants to stop the back and forth in lower courts and have the Kentucky Supreme Court decide the legality of his orders. A follow-up hearing has not been set yet.
