Hearing in Bailey v. Pritzker Case Vacated

The scheduled hearing in the Clay County lawsuit filed by St. Rep. Darren Bailey against Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday has been vacated.

The cancellation of the hearing was the result of a telephone conference call involving the attorneys for both sides and Judge Michael McHaney Thursday afternoon.

The docket entry in the case Thursday indicates an additional count in the lawsuit could be filed. A deadline for additional filings of July 22 had also been added to the case file, specifically an answer by Bailey to the State's motion to dismiss Count 1 of the suit.

The Illinois Attorney General's office had sought the hearing to entertain the dismissal of one count in the suit. If the count is dismissed, the Attorney General's office indicates it would clear the way for an appeal of the verdict in the suit. The verdict went in favor of Rep. Bailey and the ruling by Judge McHaney was that Illinois citizens did not have to comply with the governor's stay at home orders.

Any additional filings are to go through the office of 4th Circuit Chief Judge Kimberly Koester.