Civil Rights and Rule by Decree

Indiana

• "Holcomb's Special Laws", (2020), on the Indiana governor's rule by decree.

• "Indiana lawmakers override veto on local health rules," Tom Davies, Associated Press, May 11, 2021.

"It is the second time in less than a month that the Republican-dominated Legislature has rejected GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto on measures limiting the broad authority that he and local health officials have used to impose restrictions around the state during the coronavirus pandemic.

The new law approved Monday requires elected county commissioners or city councils to vote on approving any local health orders that are more stringent than those issued by Holcomb in order for them to go back into effect. That would include mask mandates that were in place for cities including Indianapolis, South Bend, Elkhart and Bloomington since Holcomb rescinded the statewide mask order in early April.

The Senate voted 36-10 and the House 59-30 to easily achieve the simple majorities needed to override the veto issued last week by Holcomb and make the new law effective immediately."

Germany

• Bavarian curfew struck down a year later by the courts

Kansas

• Judges attack new statute meant to rein in county health officials.