Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker defends COVID restrictions as small business owners, religious leaders ask US Supreme Court to hear complaint
Updated May 10, 2021;
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday defended his administration’s COVID-19 measures after a group that claims he abused his authority asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case.
Baker’s executive orders limiting gatherings, capacities and hours at restaurants and businesses were upheld by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in December. The New Civil Liberties Alliance, representing a group of small business owners, religious leaders and a private school administrator, claimed the moves violated the Constitution and that Baker sidestepped the state legislature by erroneously invoking the Civil Defense Act. The group now seeks an audience with the highest court in the country, State House News Service reported Monday.
The plaintiffs in an unsuccessful lawsuit that sought to overturn many of Gov. Charlie Baker s executive orders that put business and other gathering restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance said Monday that it was in the process of filing a petition with the Supreme Court to review the case, which was rejected in December by the state s top court.
In that ruling, the Supreme Judicial Court justices said that state law gave the governor expansive discretionary powers in the face of an emergency. The court wrote that the law does include the phrase other natural causes, and the pandemic fit firmly within that definition.