Whitmer Signs Bills Expanding Criminal Justice Reform
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Judge Denies Motion to Overturn Election
Media Contacts: Ryan Jarvi FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: US District Judge Denies Motion to Overturn ElectionLANSING – In a spirited opinion, US District Judge James E. Boasberg of the DC District Court today denied plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction in Wisconsin Voters Alliance et.al. v Vice President Michael R Pence et.al. Boasberg’s opinion concluded by saying that “the plaintiffs have established no likelihood of success on the merits here …” In his opinion, Judge Boasberg said: “Plaintiffs’ aims in this election challenge are bold indeed: they ask this Court to declare unconstitutional several decades-old federal statutes governing the appointment of electors and the counting of electoral votes for President of the United States; to invalidate multiple state statutes regulating the certification of Presidential votes; to ignore certain Supreme Court decisions; and, the coup de grace, to enjoin the U.S. Congress from counting the electoral votes on January 6, 2021, and declaring Joseph R. Biden the next President.” The action by voter groups and individual voters from the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona was brought against Pence in his capacity as President of the US Senate, both Houses of Congress and the Electoral College itself, and several leaders of the five named states. At the same time they filed their complaint, the plaintiffs also moved for a preliminary injunction that would enjoin the certifying of the electors from the five states and the counting of their electoral votes. The judge noted that: “In addition to being filed on behalf of Plaintiffs without standing and (at least as to the state Defendants) in the wrong court and with no effort to even serve their adversaries, the suit rests on a fundamental and obvious misreading of the Constitution. It would be risible were its target not so grave: the undermining of a democratic election for President of the United States. The Court will deny the Motion.” The judge also noted that the Court had immediately directed the plaintiffs to file proofs of service and yet, 12 days later, the plaintiffs had failed to provide the court with any proof of notice, proof of service, or any explanation for why those were not forthcoming. In a scathing conclusion, Judge Boasberg wrote: “Yet even that may be letting Plaintiffs off the hook too lightly. Their failure to make any effort to serve or formally notify any Defendant — even after reminder by the Court in its Minute Order — renders it difficult to believe that the suit is meant seriously. Courts are not instruments through which parties engage in such gamesmanship or symbolic political gestures. As a result, at the conclusion of this litigation, the Court will determine whether to issue an order to show cause why this matter should not be referred to its Committee on Grievances for potential discipline of Plaintiffs’ counsel.” |
Whitmer Proclaims January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month
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All Michiganders Must Continue Fighting to Eliminate COVID-19
Governor Whitmer: As Michigan Surpassed 500,000 Cases and Works to Distribute the Safe and Effective Vaccine, All Michiganders Must Continue Fighting to Eliminate COVID-19
Governor reiterates calls on the federal government to pass relief funding for states
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the State of Michigan recorded its 500,000th confirmed case of COVID-19:
“Since the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Michigan, the vast majority of Michiganders have done their part to protect themselves, their families, and our frontline workers and small business owners. Now, there is hope on the horizon. My administration, led by Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, has been working with local health officials and health care providers to begin distributing the safe and effective vaccine, starting with our most vulnerable populations like health care workers and skilled nursing home residents and staff. We must remember that it will take some time for the vaccine to be widely available to all Michiganders, and until then, we must continue to do our part to keep ourselves and our fellow Michiganders safe. That means masking up, practicing safe social distancing, and avoiding indoor gatherings where the virus can easily spread from person to person.
“I was proud to work with the Legislature to pass and sign a bipartisan $106 Million Relief Plan for Michigan workers, small businesses, and more. I proposed this stimulus plan to the legislature in November because I know how much our families, frontline workers, and small businesses need relief as we head into the winter. This bipartisan relief bill will provide families and businesses the support they need to stay afloat as we continue working to distribute the safe and effective vaccine and eradicate COVID-19 once and for all.
“We still need our leaders in Washington to pass a relief bill that includes federal funding for states to fund crucial services like police and fire, emergency responders, Medicaid, higher education, and more. These services could face cuts without help from the federal government. I will continue holding our leaders in Washington accountable.
“COVID-19 didn’t end with the new year. There is still more work to do to beat this virus, but I know that Michiganders are up to the challenge. Let’s harness our Michigan grit and eliminate this virus once and for all.”
Judge issues temporary restraining order against restaurant
Judge issues temporary restraining order against restaurant for not protecting staff and customers
For immediate release: Dec. 31, 2020
Media Contact:
Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724
Jessy Sielski, 517-331-1151
LANSING, MI – Ingham County Judge Wanda Stokes has issued a temporary restraining order against Café Rosetta of Calumet for continuing to operate without a valid food service establishment license. Judge Stokes’s order comes after Café Rosetta disregarded an epidemic order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which included protections against the spread of COVID-19 such as a temporary prohibition on gatherings for indoor dining in the state, and a cease-and-desist order and summary suspension order issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Following an administrative hearing on MDARD’s summary suspension order earlier this month, an impartial Administrative Law Judge determined that the continued operation of Café Rosetta posed an imminent threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.
“We’re pleased that Judge Stokes has ruled in the state’s favor, not only for the health of our residents, but also for the sake of the industry as a whole,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “Epidemic orders issued by the state are meant to be temporary, but they only work if everybody follows the same rules. There are thousands of Michigan restaurants, bars, and businesses trying to do right by their communities and fellow business owners, but their sacrifices must not be undermined because others ignore the law and make up their own rulebook during a pandemic.”
On December 2, after MDHHS issued its epidemic order, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development—the state agency with authority to implement and enforce Michigan’s Food Law—determined that Café Rosetta’s continued operation created an imminent or substantial endangerment to public health and summarily suspended the operation’s food establishment license.
After a December 10 hearing, an impartial Administrative Law Judge found that MDARD’s summary suspension of Café Rosetta’s license should be continued. Despite the Administrative Law Judge’s decision and order—and despite Café Rosetta not having a valid food license—Café Rosetta has continued operating in violation of Michigan’s Food Law, MCL 289.1101 et seq.
When Café Rosetta continued to offer indoor dining after this ruling, MDARD submitted a motion for a temporary restraining order to the 30th Judicial Circuit in Ingham County.
The temporary restraining order reaffirms the decisions and actions of the state regarding Café Rosetta’s operations.