It's been five years since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer granted herself emergency powers to combat the COVID-19 disease. She pushed these powers to unprecedented extremes, and the Michigan Supreme Court eventually ruled her actions illegal and unconstitutional. But this fixed only one problem with Michigan's emergency power laws — there are still 30 state statutes that state officials could use to establish emergency authority to act unilaterally.
Some states significantly reformed their emergency laws after the controversial and ineffective COVID response. Michigan is not one of them, however. State health officials could issue lockdown orders for the entire state tomorrow, if they wanted. The only thing that could stop these orders is a legal challenge, and it could take months for such a case to be heard in court. All state departments, in fact, still have some authority to unilaterally grant themselves emergency powers. Your elected officials serving in the Legislature could do nothing to stop them.
This event, reflecting on the five years that have passed since the COVID disaster, will discuss the need for and use of emergency powers, including their inherent danger. Policymakers need to strike a balance between the need for temporary emergency powers and the need to protect the rule of law, separation of powers and civil liberties.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Program: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
The Louie Building
Freedom Hall (6th Floor)
123 W. Allegan St.
Lansing, MI 48933
Call our Events office at
This event is free, but RSVP is required by May 21.
Register online
Dr. Randal Baker is a bariatric physician at Grand Health Partners with a specialization in bariatric surgery, advanced laparoscopy and endoscopic sclerotherapy. Dr. Baker is involved in research all over the world and has presented his findings abroad in countries like France, Spain and Tokyo. Dr. Baker was a client of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation in its successful lawsuit against Gov. Whitmer’s abuse of emergency powers.
Daniel Dew directs Pacific Legal Foundation’s legal policy efforts. The legal policy team fights for individual liberty in the other two branches of government by finding principled solutions to complex problems. Daniel has led numerous successful public policy campaigns, including home equity theft reform, judicial bias reform, emergency powers reform, and prior to his time at PLF, civil asset forfeiture reform, sentencing reform, and removing government-imposed barriers to employment.
Michael Van Beek is director of research for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He published three reports on emergency power laws in Michigan, including one cited by the Michigan Supreme Court. He has authored several other studies for the Center as well as analysis and commentaries that have been published in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Hill, The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press and elsewhere.
Parking is solely your responsibility. We do not have access to discounts or free parking in downtown Lansing. There are a number of parking garages and metered parking throughout downtown.
Parking is available at meters located around the building and throughout downtown using the Passport Parking app. Using the app, you simply enter your "zone" code and link to a credit card. There is a 4 hour maximum at the meters. You cannot extend your parking pass time without moving to a different zone. Pay online or download the Passport Parking phone app www.passportparking.com
South Grand Ramp
201 S Grand Ave
Lansing, Ml 48933
Allegan Parking Ramp
corner of, W Allegan St & S Capitol Ave
Lansing, Ml 48933
Capitol Public Parking
231 S Capitol Ave
Lansing, Ml 48933
Townsend Street Parking Ramp
221 Townsend St
Lansing, Ml 48933
