Thread by @ChadLivengood

WHOA.

Michigan Supreme Court rules against @GovWhitmer's use of 1945 emergency powers law in #COVID19 pandemic, says 145 law "is in violation of the Constitution of our state because it purports to delegate to the executive branch the legislative powers of state government..."

STORY: Michigan Supreme Court's ruling throws into doubt @GovWhitmer's continued use of the 1945 emergency powers law for issuing executive orders that she has used to restrict economic and human activity since March in an effort to protect public health.

crainsdetroit.com/government/mic…

"This is a great day for the people of Michigan," @MIGOPChair Laura Cox said in a statement about 4 GOP-nominated justice striking down the Democratic governor's public health emergency powers.

UPDATED STORY: crainsdetroit.com/government/mic…

https://twitter.com/ChadLivengood/status/1312145256071135233

Here is the full decision: courts.michigan.gov/Courts/Michiga…

Case docs: courts.michigan.gov/Courts/Michiga…

JUST IN: @GovWhitmer's statement on the Michigan Supreme Court striking down her use of a 1945 emergency powers law for manging the coronavirus pandemic.

INBOX: Trump’s Justice Department and U.S. attorneys in Michigan take a victory lap in the Michigan Supreme Court striking down a law used by @GovWhitmer to issue #CoronavirusPandemic executive orders

LEDE of my column in @crainsdetroit two weeks ago aged well:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's ability to manage economic and human activity in Michigan to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus by the stroke of her pen appears to be waning.

crainsdetroit.com/voices-chad-li…

UPDATE: Attorney General @DanaNessel believes the Michigan Supreme Court's 21-day rule for orders to take effect DOES apply to @GovWhitmer's #COVID19 executive orders, but she's using her "prosecutorial discretion" to not enforce it, AG spokesman Ryan Jarvi says.

JUST IN: New response from @GovWhitmer's press secretary to the Michigan Supreme Court ruling...

"Make no mistake, Gov. Whitmer will continue using every tool at her disposal to keep Michigan families, frontline workers, and small businesses safe from this deadly virus.”