Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and his fellow Democrats just suffered a big legal blow.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a judge has found Pritzker’s masking and quarantining mandates for schools to be illegal. 

Restoring due process

The ruling was handed down by Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow on Friday. The case specifically had to do with Pritzker’s executive orders requiring students to wear masks and to quarantine when they come in close contact with a COVID-positive individual.

The orders were challenged by Attorney Thomas DeVore on behalf of the parents of some of these children. DeVore asked Grischow to grant a temporary restraining order stopping Pritzker’s executive orders from being enforced, arguing that students’ right to due process had been violated.

Grischow granted that request. Now, the state can’t force students to wear masks if they object to doing so, “except during the terms of lawful order of quarantine issued from their respective health department.”

Also at issue was an order requiring school districts to force school employees to either get vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Now, it has been made clear that the employees have the right to object and to be afforded due process after objecting.

“Arbitrary” mandates “evil,” judge says

Grischow wrote in her opinion that “it is the duty of the Courts to preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the boundaries of the authority granted under the Constitution.” And, this is what her decision ensures.

“The arbitrary method as to contact tracing and masking in general continue to raise fair questions as to the legality of the Executive Orders in light of violations of healthy children’s substantive due process rights,” Grishow wrote. “Statutory rights have attempted to be bypassed through the issuance of Executive Orders and Emergency Rules.”

Grishow concluded, “this type of evil is exactly what the law was intended to constrain.”

It’s not over yet

Pritzker does intend on appealing Grishow’s ruling.

“The grave consequence of this misguided decision is that schools in these districts no longer have sufficient tools to keep students and staff safe while COVID-19 continues to threaten our communities — and this may force schools to go remote,” he said.

Despite the fact that Illinois’s coronavirus numbers have been trending in the right direction, Pritzker still refuses to give a timeline for lifting his mandates.