NJGOP request to stay Murphy executive orders denied

A Cape May County Superior Court judge denied New Jersey Republicans request for a stay against two of Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 executive orders Thursday.

The Republicans sought to pause Murphy’s orders by claiming they deprived residents of equal protection clause of the state constitution and deprived residence of due process provided by the same.

“It’s disappointing personally as a litigant, but it’s more disappointing to me as a business owner, because the circumstances are emergent … The fact that the appellate division won’t treat it as an emergency doesn’t mean we’re going to back down,” Steinhardt said. “We’re not.”

The judge denied the stay and their request for an expedited appeal, though the court assented to adding Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) to the suit as a plaintiff.

This article was updated with comment from Steinhardt at 5:59 p.m.