Seemingly the last Michigan business enterprises relegated to the sidelines by executive order of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, gyms and indoor fitness centers have garnered a major victory in U.S. District Court today, with a ruling from a judge who originally hailed from St. Joseph.
Today, U. S. District Court Judge Paul Maloney, a former Berrien County Prosecutor in St. Joseph, dealt Governor Gretchen Whitmer a devastating blow by overturning her executive order closing down state fitness facilities.
In his opinion, Maloney stated, “Defendants offer nothing in support of the restriction, so it appears to have no ‘real or substantial’ basis to protecting the public health. Nor can the court identify any set of facts on which the gym restriction has a rational relation to public health, in light of the opening of similar venues and activities like swimming pools, restaurants and bars, and ‘personal touch’ services like salons. Therefore, plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of at least some of their claims.”
As a result of his ruling, all gyms with indoor facilities in Michigan have been told they may reopen for business at 12:01 am on Thursday, June 25th.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox was among the first to respond to the news, saying, “I applaud today’s decision striking down Governor Whitmer’s executive overreach, and I am confident it is just the beginning.” She adds, “Over the past 100 days, Gretchen Whitmer has abused her power saying that her decisions have been made on data that has never materialized. This time her lack of transparency came back to haunt her. It’s past time for the governor to release all of her administration’s documents and data regarding the COVID-19 crisis.”
Members of gyms and fitness centers will be hearing very soon, if not already, from their facility owners and managers about plans for reopening next week.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market is courtesy of Anytime Fitness in St. Joseph.
