Lee’s Order Allowing Some But Not All Businesses Like Barber Shops to Reopen is Unconstitutional, District Attorney Says

 

The district attorney in Cleveland, Tennessee, says he will not prosecute violations of Gov. Bill Lee’s “unconstitutional” executive orders, aka the inconsistent reopening of close-contact businesses like barbershops in some areas but not others.

Stephen D. Crump is the district attorney of the 10th Judicial District: Cleveland, Athens and Madisonville. The statement, made Wednesday, is available on his Facebook page here.

He says he disagrees with Lee for allowing certain businesses to reopen in some areas but remain closed in others.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Lee said salons and other “close contact” businesses in 89 counties could reopen Wednesday, May 6, with limits. Non-emergency dental services continue to be banned until at least Wednesday, WBIR said. Six metro counties manage their own decisions because the state does not run their health departments.

In response, Crump said:

The purpose of this release is to declare that the Office of the District Attorney General for the Tenth Judicial District will no longer enforce a criminal sanction or penalty against a citizen for a violation of one of the Executive Orders of Governor Bill Lee which were promulgated relative to the COVID-19 pandemic. While I have great respect for Governor Lee, I cannot in good conscience, and with fidelity to my oath, allow what I believe to be unconstitutional criminal proceedings to take place.

Executive Order 30, issued yesterday, April 28, 2020, continues the closure of “close contact personal services” and “entertainment, recreational, and certain other gathering venues.” It also still forbids “social or recreational gatherings of ten (10) or more people.” At the same time, under other orders, multiple businesses have been allowed to re-open, including restaurants dining rooms and gyms and fitness centers.

As it currently stands, Knox County is poised to open many businesses on Friday, May 1. Those same businesses will still be closed in the 10th Judicial District by the order of the governor. For example, a barber in Knox County can open on Friday, but the barbers in the counties and towns of this district will still be prohibited from working. The same would be true of many other “close contact personal services” and other businesses such as theaters and bowling alleys. Likewise, a restaurant can have half of their dining room filled, while a group of more than ten (10) friends cannot meet in a public park to eat together.

I do not believe that someone should be prosecuted in this district for trying to earn a living doing a job that is legal and “permitted” just a few miles up the road. Nor do I believe that the prosecution of twelve (12) friends eating dinner together in a home in two groups of six should be prosecuted, while if they did the same thing in a restaurant dining room, they would be free of criminal exposure.

The prosecution of a citizen by his government for a criminal act must engender the confidence of the defendant’s fellow citizens. That prosecution must be rooted in the belief that the powers of the government are limited and confined by the constitution. The District Attorney General is uniquely situated to ensure that both occur. In fact, the District Attorney General is required to demand both from the criminal justice system.

If I am to hold fast to the oath I took, I cannot prosecute an individual under these executive orders. Indeed, the Tennessee Constitution demands that I not and oppose the prosecutions. “That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.” Tenn. Const. Art. I, § 2. While I do not believe that Governor Lee intended to act in an arbitrary fashion, I do believe that the enforcement of the current orders would result in that very outcome. There is not a constitutionally sound cohesion between the acts allowed and the acts prohibited. That cannot be the foundation upon which a meaningful prosecution is built, and the institution of such a prosecution would undermine public confidence, rather than cultivate it. I cannot allow that to occur.

I also do not believe that our citizens will stand for such an outcome. Many of our citizens are about to simply go back to work to save their livelihoods, their homes and their economic existence. They are about to ignore the executive orders. Therefore, I will not criminally enforce the executive orders on that basis. There cannot be two standards of criminal justice in this state. It is not constitutional, nor is it just. An act that is legal in Knox County cannot be a criminal act in Bradley, Polk, McMinn or Monroe County. Due process, equal protection and fundamental fairness require that the citizens of this district not be penalized simply due to geography.

Every citizen should act responsibly and do everything in their power to prevent the spread of this virus. We must all use extreme care to protect the vulnerable. We must use common sense and do our best to act as one community.  Business owners who open in spite of the executive orders may encounter licensing issues or other serious consequences that arise from their actions, but they should not face criminal charges.Therefore, I will exercise the discretion I am granted under the Tennessee and United States Constitution and in this district, they will not.

 

Yes, Every Kid

 

 

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7 Thoughts to “Lee’s Order Allowing Some But Not All Businesses Like Barber Shops to Reopen is Unconstitutional, District Attorney Says”

  1. So now District Attorneys decide what is/is not Constitutional? Just goes to show how screwed up I got by taking Civics in high-school, I thought the U.S. Supreme Court decides what is or isn’t Constitutional.

    1. 83ragtop50

      He is talking about the Tennessee State Constitution for which Lee is the primary enforcer. Is it just possible that Lee has greatly overstepped his authority. It is sure worth questioning before a “crisis” happens again.

  2. Now that’s taking a stand❗
    But it seems, Crump thinks the shutdowns would be ok if they were uniform?

  3. Horatio Bunce

    “the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.” Tenn. Const. Art. I, § 2.”

    It is obvious to any thinking people that these “recommendations” and “policies” are not scientific, do not prevent spread of any disease that is: a) airborne capable or b) capable of living on surfaces for months. It is ridiculous that you can be inside certain businesses with hundreds of people but cannot “gather” with more than 10. Really, so “infecting” 10 people at a time is acceptable? These people are not serious about a contagion. They know it is fraud. They also know that too fast a move will spur immediate revolt. It is conditioning.

    People are running out of things to lose because of this coronahoax “lockdown” (a prison term). When they do, and have little left but their lives, the resistance will be easy for all to see. The control experiment LockStep called for by the Rockefeller Foundation will fail and cost many more lives. But that is the goal – population reduction. See NSSM200 dot com. Official government policy since 1969. These globalists are nuts.

  4. No kidding. It is a bout damn time that people came to their senses. No Governor has this authority. No President has this authority. I am really surprised someone did not challenge this day one. I think we’ve all suffered enough. Keep your hands washed. It’s time to get back to work. I said early on, “cold and flu season will never be the same.” What we are witnessing is a society entirely controlled by television.

  5. Ralph

    The Battle of Athens Redux!

    By all means.

    Well done, Sir.

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