House GOP tactic to end Louisiana coronavirus restrictions is unconstitutional, judge rules – By Sam Karlin (The Advocate) / Nov 12 2020
A Baton Rouge judge on Thursday ruled a law used by House Republican lawmakers to order the governor to revoke his coronavirus restrictions is unconstitutional, dealing a blow to conservatives who have sought for months to loosen the rules.
Nineteenth Judicial District Judge William Morvant sided with Gov. John Bel Edwards in a Zoom hearing, effectively rejecting the latest tactic used by Republican House members to revoke the coronavirus restrictions.
Sixty-five of 68 House Republicans last month used an obscure 2003 law passed during the SARS pandemic to send a petition to Gov. John Bel Edwards directing him to cancel his virus restrictions. Morvant ruled the law in question violates the state Constitution because it doesn’t involve both chambers of the Legislature, instead allowing the House or Senate to act on their own.
The decision keeps intact Edwards’ coronavirus rules — including a statewide mask mandate, social distancing requirements and gathering limits — as the country experiences the most severe surge in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. Louisiana has largely avoided the latest surge, but health officials say the state is seeing early signs of an increase.
