Southwest Illinois chamber of commerce sues Gov. J.B. Pritzker over COVID-19 orders
The Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce is suing Gov. J.B. Pritzker with the help of an attorney known for challenging the governor’s stay-at-home orders.
In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Madison County, attorney Tom DeVore says Pritzker does not have the power to extend executive stay-at-home orders beyond 30 days.
The chamber represents roughly 500 businesses, most of which had to close because of Pritzker’s order. They seek in the lawsuit for the executive order to be suspended so they can resume business.
The chamber argues the governor had no right to shut down businesses beyond the original order. Pritzker’s has issued three orders: one in early March, another in early April and a third in late April. He is expected to issue new, modified orders for each month in the state’s phased reopening plan.
“Pritzker has made no qualms about unleashing administrative agencies with ‘tools’ to enforce his arbitrary orders, which ‘tools’ include threatening our business owners with license revocation,” the lawsuit reads.
Businesses that violate the executive orders could have their business license revoked or face an order to closed.
The lawsuit claims the state does not have the right to force residents into extended quarantine or isolation without their permission or a court order. The governor has said his order does not qualify as quarantine because people can still run essential errands and will soon be able to return to some recreational activities under Phase 3 of the reopening plan.
DeVore’s law firm also represents two state representatives and over 100 clients in more than 30 counties.
Judge Christopher Threlkeld will hear the case. A hearing had not been scheduled as of Tuesday evening.
