Posted on 09/14/2020 2:35:21 PM PDT by Jacquerie
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- Gov. Tom Wolf's pandemic restrictions that required people to stay at home, placed size limits on gatherings and ordered "non-life-sustaining" businesses to shut down are unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Monday.
U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, sided with plaintiffs that included hair salons, drive-in movie theaters, a farmer's market vendor, a horse trainer and several Republican officeholders in their lawsuit against Wolf, a Democrat, and his health secretary.
The Wolf administration's pandemic policies have been overreaching and arbitrary and violated citizens' constitutional rights, Stickman wrote in his ruling.
The governor's efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus "were undertaken with the good intention of addressing a public health emergency. But even in an emergency, the authority of government is not unfettered," Stickman wrote. "The Constitution cannot accept the concept of a 'new normal' where the basic liberties of the people can be subordinated to open-ended emergency mitigation measures."
The ruling means that current restrictions, including ones that limit the size of indoor and outdoor gatherings, can't be enforced, according to attorney Thomas W. King III, who represented the plaintiffs.
(Excerpt) Read more at 6abc.com ...
So, Tommie the Commie and Dr. Chick.With.A.Dick have been slapped down.
I’d say that’s purdy good news!
Excellent!
Don’t celebrate just yet. I’m sure they’ll fight this on appeal and magically the next judge to hear this will be an Obama appointee.
Unlike our President the Gov will likely ignore the judge.
I just learned that a friend of a friend of mine taught this judge when he was a student at a Pittsburgh Catholic high school. Reports are he was a very bright kid with a VERY conservative upbringing.
“King III”
How ironic!
The basis of the ruling is that the rules were “forever”. As temporary actions in an emergency they would pass muster IMHO.
And, IMHO, that seems a reasonable distinction to make.
He’s right of course, but Democrats are above the law, so Wolf will just ignore the ruling and keep doing it anyway.
And Pennsylvanians now have a legal basis for ignoring Wolfs orders.
Hospitality workers unite! Throw off your chains, en masse!
Does anyone know if Tommie the Commie and his sidekick butt boy can be sued on a civil basis as individuals or are they immune since they work for the government? I would love to see Wolf’s trash business have to be liquidated to pay damages and he has to be in the poor house the rest of his life. As for Levine, I can’t write what I want see done to that vile piece of schiff.
This is hugh and series.
Also I tweeted @ the miserable Mike DeWine here in Ohio to tell him he’s next!
Let’s gooooo....
but until then, they’re struck down
Pennsylvania Ping!
Please ping me with articles of interest.
FReepmail me to be added to the list.
Mthinks Wolf is starting to go into panic mode.
He has wasted no time in stating that he will seek an immediate injunction against the ruling plus file an appeal.
And he was very quick to remind folks that the all-important mask mandate was not covered by the ruling and is still in effect, as are the are the now two-month old restrictions on alcohol sales.
There are three Federal court Districts in Pennsylvania; some (including some real conservatives) believe that AT BEST this ruling will apply ONLY to the Western District.
Leftists like Wolf get a taste of authoritarianism and they want control of everything.
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