Governor Kemp Withdraws Request for Emergency Hearing in COVID-19 Mandate Lawsuit

Strategic Insights -

Governor Brian Kemp has decided to withdraw his request for an emergency hearing in his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and City Council over conflicting coronavirus mandates. The decision comes after two judges recused themselves from the case and both the governor and mayor were ordered to mediation, a move that may have proved worthwhile for taxpayers. The lawsuit stems from Kemp's executive orders, which spell out that local governments cannot impose mandates that are more restrictive or less restrictive than his, and Kemp's decision to take action against Atlanta's mask mandate but not other cities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Governor Kemp's lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and City Council was prompted by Kemp's executive orders, which prohibits local governments from imposing mask mandates more restrictive than his.
  • Two judges recused themselves from the case, leading to a new hearing date of July 28 with Fulton County Judge Jane Barwick.
  • The governor and mayor were ordered to mediation, a move that may have proven worthwhile for taxpayers.
  • Kemp has maintained that enforcing mask mandates is not realistic, and that all Georgians know what needs to be done to curb the spread of COVID-19.
  • Kemp took action against Atlanta's mask mandate, citing Bottoms' decision to roll back the city's reopening plan and protect business owners and their employees.
  • Kemp's July 15 Executive Order explicitly banned all local mask mandates, stating that "any state, county, or municipal law, order, ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires persons to wear face coverings, masks, or shields, or any other Personal Protective Equipment while in places of public accommodation or public property are suspended to the extent that they are more restrictive than this Executive Order."
  • Kemp's spokesman stated that the lawsuit was prompted by Bottoms' "misleading claims" that the city was reverting to Phase One of reopening, which Kemp felt would cause economic harm and immediate backlash from business owners.
  • The governor will continue to fight for "hardworking Georgians" and prioritize public health data and science in decision-making.

Statistics:

  • 2 judges recused themselves from the case
  • 1 new hearing date was set for July 28 with Fulton County Judge Jane Barwick
  • 1 executive order issued by Kemp on July 15 banning local mask mandates
  • 5 cities with mask mandates (Savannah, Athens, East Point, College Park, and Brookhaven) were not subject to Kemp's lawsuit

Sources:

  • "Governor Kemp has withdrawn a request for an emergency hearing in his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and City Council." - Angelina Velasquez (WGCL)
  • July 15 Executive Order by Governor Brian Kemp
  • Statement by Kemp spokesman regarding the withdrawal of his request for an emergency hearing