KY Supreme Court puts hold on rulings against Beshear’s COVID-19 orders

July 18, 2020 | 12:11 am

Updated July 18, 2020 | 12:16 am

Graphic by Owensboro Times

The Kentucky Supreme Court has kept in place all of Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive orders related to COVID-19, including making masks mandatory in public. 

“Given the need for a clear and consistent statewide public health policy and recognizing that the Kentucky legislature has expressly given the Governor broad executive powers in a public health emergency, the court orders a stay of all orders of injunctive relief until such time as the various orders are properly before the court with a full record of any evidence and pleadings considered by the lower courts,” Chief Justice John D. Minton wrote Friday afternoon in an order issued by unanimous decision.

The court will hear full arguments from Beshear’s administration and the attorney general’s office before issuing a final ruling.

“I’m relieved because I’ve sat up the last two nights not sleeping, worried about how many people would die if we didn’t have any types of rules in place,” Beshear said during a news conference Friday afternoon.

Earlier Friday, a Boone Circuit Court Judge was expected to sign an injunction nullifying many of Beshear’s executive orders on COVID-19, according to officials. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has attempted to block Beshear’s coronavirus-related orders in court.

Cameron addressed the Supreme Court ruling via Twitter after the announcement.

“As important issues are being considered in these cases, we respect the Supreme Court’s decision to maintain these orders until the court can undertake its proceedings. Our goal in joining these cases is that the law is followed and the rights of Kentuckians are protected. We look forward to having the Supreme Court take up these important issues in the coming days,” he tweeted.

During his news conference, Beshear announced 531 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, raising the state’s total to at least 21,605. There were eight new deaths, bringing the state total to 653.

As of Friday, there have been at least 522,267 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate currently stands at 4.19%. At least 6,772 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

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July 18, 2020 | 12:11 am

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