What you missed during oral arguments in Legislature’s COVID-19 order lawsuit (INFOGRAPHIC)

Listen to this article

The Wisconsin Legislature’s lawsuit over Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order is making headlines throughout the country.

The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case on Tuesday, giving conservative justices on the court an opportunity to dig into the assistant attorney general representing Andrea Palm, the Department of Health Services secretary.

Evers issued an order in March requiring people to stay in their homes and avoid nonessential travel to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The order also required schools and nonessential businesses to close their doors and banned public gatherings. Palm, a member of Evers’ Cabinet, extended the order until May 26 at the governor’s direction.

Republican legislators filed a lawsuit directly with the state Supreme Court arguing Palm had overstepped her authority. They contend the order is really an administrative rule and, as such, is subject to legislative approval.

The high court heard oral arguments in the case using online videoconferencing on Tuesday. At times, the discussion became heated, and Chief Justice Patience Roggensack had to step in to stop justices from talking over each other.

“I know participation like this can be tiring. It’s tiring on this side of the bench, too,” Roggensack said at the end of the hearing. “It’s complicated questions that are presented here, and in addition to that, there’s an awful lot of emotion that’s tied to them because we are in the middle of a pandemic, which all sides agree on.”

The Associated Press contributed to this summary.

Here are some of the most notable quotes from Tuesday’s arguments and a timeline showing how and when various justices participated.

Click images below for full resolution