Washington County Files Amicus Brief with State Supreme Court on “Safer at Home” Order
County argues local control is required by state law
West Bend, WI – Yesterday, Washington County filed an amicus brief with the Wisconsin State Supreme Court in support of the Legislature’s request to enjoin the extended safer at home order. In the brief, the county argues for the ability to utilize local control to best fight the pandemic at the local level.
County Executive Josh Schoemann released the following statements:
Under state law, it is the duty of local health departments to manage public health emergencies. Washington County, through a successful joint public health department, is capable of controlling the pandemic. The state should be supporting locals not indefinitely usurping our local control.
It is unfortunate that the response to COVID-19 has become political warfare. Our involvement with this litigation is to ensure each county has the ability to respond to the pandemic in a way that fits for our citizens.
In close cooperation with Washington Ozaukee Public Health Officer Kirsten Johnson and Sheriff Marty Schulteis, the Washington County has been a leader in our pandemic response. From robust contract tracing to releasing outbreak information on a dashboard to presenting a Blueprint to Reopen, Washington County leaders have shown our willingness to balance the public health crisis and the economic crisis, while respecting individual liberty.
COVID-19 presents different challenges for each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work in the long term. Wisconsin’s public health and economic well-being depends on local leaders stepping up. Our brief balances local public health policy and the preservation of our constitutional rights.
Check www.co.washington.wi.us/coronavirus for up-to-date information on the pandemic.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Coronavirus Pandemic
- MHD Release: Milwaukee Health Department Launches COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Dashboard - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Jan 23rd, 2024
- Milwaukee County Announces New Policies Related to COVID-19 Pandemic - County Executive David Crowley - May 9th, 2023
- DHS Details End of Emergency COVID-19 Response - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Apr 26th, 2023
- Milwaukee Health Department Announces Upcoming Changes to COVID-19 Services - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Mar 17th, 2023
- Fitzgerald Applauds Passage of COVID-19 Origin Act - U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald - Mar 10th, 2023
- DHS Expands Free COVID-19 Testing Program - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Feb 10th, 2023
- MKE County: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rising - Graham Kilmer - Jan 16th, 2023
- Not Enough Getting Bivalent Booster Shots, State Health Officials Warn - Gaby Vinick - Dec 26th, 2022
- Nearly All Wisconsinites Age 6 Months and Older Now Eligible for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Dec 15th, 2022
- City of Milwaukee Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Update - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Dec 9th, 2022
Read more about Coronavirus Pandemic here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Washington County
Washington County Files Amicus Brief with State Supreme Court on “Safer at Home” Order
Apr 30th, 2020 by Washington CountyCounty argues local control is required by state law
Washington County Executive to Release “Blueprint for Reopening”
Apr 20th, 2020 by Washington CountyWashington Ozaukee Public Health Officer to brief county board at organizational meeting
Washington County Begins Emergency Protocols to Mitigate COVID-19 Spread
Mar 14th, 2020 by Washington CountyCounty Board Chair proclaims state of emergency
County Executive Josh Schoemann:
What is the population of Washington County?
How many Washington County residents have been tested for Covid-19?
How many tested positive?
How many are currently quarantined?
How many have been hospitalized?
How many have died?
Why are doctors canceling in-patients visits if all is safe?
Who financially/politically supported the gun toting libertarians who were not wearing face masks, gloves or social distancing when protesting the “safer at home order) at the capitol in Madison?
Will these be the same dudes coughing in our faces as they run around town enjoying their freedom to infect others?
What percentage of Washington County residents are over 60, which makes them more vulnerable to this virus…leading to complications that may end in death?
If Washington County opens stores and restaurants, but Milwaukee County doesn’t, won’t most customers of those stores and restaurants be from Milwaukee County? So even if Washington County isn’t a hotspot today, won’t reopening it make it one soon?
Or does Washington County’s idea of “local control“ include the right to exclude residents of “closed” counties? And if Milwaukee County residents are to be excluded, how? Do they plan to card people at the door or run their license plates (and will you do that for all patrons, or only non-white ones)?