KS Governor Laura Kelly sues lawmakers for refusing approval to her statewide stay-at-home regulation

Amid the current stay-at-home order, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is suing Republican lawmakers for refusing her order to cancel church gatherings. 

According to the Washington Post, on Tuesday, April 7, Governor Kelly asked the Kansas Supreme Court to renew her executive order limiting social and religious gatherings to 10 people. After this order was released, Kelly received harsh hindrance from law enforcement and Republican lawmakers, igniting a dispute over nationwide health and the practice of religion.   

Kelly’s goal is to protect the health of Kansas citizens and describes it as a “purely political move”. She made her decision due to the fact that three groups of people that tested positive for COVID-19 were linked back to church gatherings. 

Contrary to Governor Kelly’s order, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, along with other lawmakers, advised police not to enforce it. They claimed the order was “criminalizing participation in worship gatherings.”

In this lawsuit, the Kansas Supreme Court is set to make their decision Saturday night before any Easter Sunday gatherings.