Kentucky AG, Governor Go Head-To-Head Over COVID-19 Executive Orders

The attorney general wants to block all of Gov. Beshear's COVID-19 Executive Orders.

File photo.

(Boone County, Ky.) – Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is seeking to block all of Andy Beshear’s COVID-19 orders.

A motion was filed Wednesday in Boone County Circuit Court, reports the Courier Journal.

The motion comes after a Boone County judge issued a restraining order against Beshear’s public health orders related to auto racetracks and daycare centers.

The judge’s ruling allows auto racetracks to operate at 50 percent capacity and day cares to have a maximum group size of 28. Beshear had ordered no fans at racetracks and group sizes of 10 at daycare centers.

The attorney general has called the governor’s actions “arbitrary and in violation of Kentuckians’ constitutional rights."

Beshear took to Twitter on Thursday. 

“I just learned the attorney general is asking the Boone County Circuit Court judge to void every COVID-19 rule or regulation, and prevent any further orders needed to respond to escalating cases,” said Beshear. “With no rules, there is no chance of getting kids back to school, we will lose over $10 billion in our economy and many Kentuckians will die. I hope everyone understands how scary and reckless this is.”

Cameron fired back saying, “Today, we are in court to protect the rights of Kentuckians and ensure the process used by the Governor to issue Executive Orders complies with the law. This is not about the Governor’s policies, it’s about making sure he follows the law.

He added that judges at every level have found constitutional problems with Beshear's orders.

“Instead of collaborating with our office and the General Assembly to fix these issues, he’s pointing fingers. The Constitution is not political, and it must be followed even in a pandemic. Across the country, Governors are collaborating with elected leaders from both parties to make sure that COVID-19 restrictions balance public health with the law. The Governor should do the same.”

If Cameron’s motion is granted, it will likely block all of Beshear’s COVID-19 orders, which includes mandating masks in public and limiting the occupancy of businesses.

In the event Cameron’s motion is granted, Gov. Beshear is expected to appeal the decision to the Kentucky Supreme Court.