Supreme Court won’t hear restaurant’s case on indoor dining ban

By Sarah Mansur 
Capitol News Illinois


Attorneys for the FoxFire Tavern in Geneva in Kane County restaurant are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn an appellate court decision that found the governor’s indoor dining ban was lawfully imposed. (Facebook photo)

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Supreme Court will not take up a case from a suburban restaurant challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s indoor dining ban.

FoxFire Tavern in Kane County asked the state’s highest court to hear their case in December after suing Pritzker over his ban in October.

The restaurant won an early victory when a Kane County judge granted the restaurant’s request for a temporary restraining order that allowed FoxFire to ignore the new indoor dining restrictions contained in Pritzker’s executive order.

An appellate court’s decision in November overruled the Kane County judge’s decision, finding the governor’s executive order is valid under the state law that gives the governor certain powers during a disaster. Following that appellate court decision, FoxFire’s attorneys appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.

The announcement May 26 ends the restaurant’s case at the Illinois Supreme Court.

FoxFire has a similar but separate legal challenge pending in Sangamon County.

A spokesperson for Pritzker said the governor “is pleased the court rejected this request and sided with upholding Gov. Pritzker’s ability to follow the science and protect the citizens of Illinois.”

Lawyers for FoxFire did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com