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Network for Public Health Law
COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Health Emergency Law & Policy Responses

Grisham v. Hudson

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Overview

Grisham v. Hudson (Supreme Court of New Mexico, Mar. 7, 2022): The New Mexico Supreme Court invalidated a series of citizen-initiated petitions convening grand juries to investigate the governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the state constitution allows citizens to submit petitions to investigate alleged criminal conduct by a public official, any petitions involving Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s pandemic response were invalid. The court noted that Governor Lujan Grisham “acted lawfully and within the scope of her executive authority when she declared a public health emergency… and delegated power to the Secretary of Health” for further actions to protect public health and safety, and that public health orders issued under the emergency declaration are a “reasonable exercise of the police power to protect public health.” The court therefore denied the petitions as invalid because they described only lawful activity, and not any unlawful activity. Read the full decision here.

View all cases in the Judicial Trends in Public Health – May 16, 2022.

View all cases under “COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Health Emergency Law & Policy Responses.”