A conservative legal firm filed a lawsuit Tuesday (Aug. 25) against Democratic Governor Tony Evers over the legality of Wisconsin’s mask mandate.
What We Know:
- The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three Wisconsin residents by conservative legal group, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL). The three residents from northwestern Wisconsin are aiming to combat Evers’ recent mask mandate.
- Governor Tony Evers announced his first executive order regarding COVID-19 earlier this year. The second executive order, that was issued in July, explicitly proclaimed a statewide mask mandate.
- According to the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, the lawsuit is not about the mask mandates but about the constitutionality of the governor’s legislation. The lawsuit alleges the governor is declaring multiple emergencies in response to the same crisis.
“The point of our lawsuit is to seek a declaration that the governor cannot declare a second public health emergency arising from the same underlying set of facts — that is, the COVID pandemic…”
– Rick Esenberg (Founder of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.)
- Wisconsin Democratic public officials believe the conservative lawsuit goes against science and the greater good of the community. Britt Cudaback, a political voice of the community and supporter of Tony Evers, stated “Republicans and their allies have tried at every turn to prevent the governor from keeping Wisconsinites healthy and safe”, according to The Madison.
The statewide mask mandate continues to divide the community. Many Wisconsin citizens feel as though their civil liberties are being challenged as public officials proceed to establish COVID-19 safety measures.
