The Justice Department's comments Friday regarding Los Angeles and Illinois stop short of declaring legal actions against the localities. But the agency warns of potential civil liberties violations.
, Barr acknowledged that while lockdowns are"necessary" to stop the spread of the virus, such restrictions have placed"tremendous burdens" on Americans.Federal prosecutors could intervene if stay-at-home orders go too far, attorney general says
"If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of COVID-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court," Barr said.
The Justice Department's comments Friday regarding Los Angeles and Illinois stop short of declaring legal actions against the localities. But the agency warns of potential civil liberties violations. "The Department of Justice does not seek to dictate how cities and counties such as Los Angeles determine what degree of activity and personal interaction should be allowed to protect the safety of their citizens," Dreiband said in the letter to Los Angeles officials."However, we are charged with protecting the federal statutory and constitutional rights of all persons in our country, and ensuring that governmental restrictions are not unconstitutionally burdensome. ...
The letter was addressed to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer and cited comments the two made about the possibility of long-term lockdowns. Ferrerat a county supervisors' meeting earlier this month that some form of stay-at-home orders will likely stay in place"for the next three months." Garcetti also said in a media interview that Los Angeles would"never be completely open until we have a cure" for the virus.
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