U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Suspend Governor's Closure Order

On May 6, the Supreme Court of the United States denied an emergency request by a political action committee and a group of businesses to temporarily block the enforcement of Governor Wolf’s March 19 Closure Order. The appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court followed an April 13 decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that upheld the Closure Order as constitutional. Although the U.S. Supreme Court denied the request to put the Closure Order on hold, it must decide at a later date if it will exercise its jurisdiction to hear the appeal of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision, which it is not required to do.

In the interim, Pennsylvania businesses must abide by the Closure Order as well as other safety orders and guidance, including those in the state Department of Health’s April 15 Order governing most “life-sustaining businesses.” To ensure that your “life-sustaining” businesses is operating pursuant to all applicable requirements, to prepare your business to re-open when your county “turns yellow,” or for any other labor and employment law question, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Hoffman & Hlavac. To stay on top of the latest labor and employment law developments, be sure to subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media.