Wayne Co. Prosecutor Dismissing Coronavirus Executive Order Cases

DETROIT — The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is dismissing all ordinance violations and misdemeanors charged under coronavirus executive orders issued by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the office announced Monday.

More than 1,600 cases that originated from emergency order violations in Wayne County were dismissed by the prosecutor's office Monday, including 1,632 pendn cases in Detroit.

“Governor Whitmer’s leadership has prevented many of our citizens from contracting COVID-19,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Monday. “However, considering the Supreme Court’s decision, WCPO will no longer use criminal prosecution to enforce the Governor’s Executive Order. It is my earnest hope that people will continue to wear face masks, social distance, quarantine when warranted.”

In 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Emergency Management Act did not authorize Whitmer to issue or renew any COVID-19 state of emergency orders. Prior to that ruling, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and Wayne County police departments had issued ordinance violations and misdemeanors tied to people accused of violating Whitmer's orders.

"As a result of the Michigan Supreme Court ruling WCPO conducted a review of the cases and it was determined that there is not a legal basis to proceed with them," the prosecutor's office said in a statement Monday. "WCPO will be dismissing all adjudicated cases and all pending cases."