Breaking news: “Michigan Supreme Court rules Whitmer lacks COVID-19 emergency powers,” reported by Riley Beggin, Kelly House, and Jonathan Oosting, for Bridge Michigan earlier today.

“A divided Michigan Supreme Court on Friday ruled that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lacks the power to issue executive orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic without consent from the Legislature.

In a 4-3 decision, the court’s conservative majority ruled that a law Whitmer has cited to continue issuing emergency orders — the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 — unlawfully delegates legislative authority to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution.

The ruling found the executive orders she has issued are no longer legal.