The Governor is the head of the executive branch of government; but is not a King. So, the Governor only has the powers delegated to him by law, and limited by law. Now that the Minnesota Governor “ordered” a mask mandate, with enforcement penalties, we may ask: “Is that ‘order’ lawful? Is it enforceable?” As we show here, the answer is “No, the Governor’s Minnesota mask mandate is illegal, unenforceable.”
But first, let’s set aside the public policy arguments about whether mask-wearing is a good or bad idea. Here our focus is solely upon the current state of the law in Minnesota.
Remember though, the legislature and Governor can easily change Minnesota Statutes in the future, should they choose.
The core problem the Governor’s Minnesota mask mandate executive order; is that it directly conflicts with Minnesota’s Statute making wearing a mask in public a misdemeanor crime.
So let’s take a look first at Minnesota’s current mask crime law.
Minnesota’s Mask Crime Statute
Wearing a mask in public is a crime under Minnesota law.
And like all crimes, a statute makes mask wearing a criminal act. See our article for a full discussion of the Minnesota mask crime statute.
The current version does contain an exception for medical “treatment.” But mask-wearing to prevent contagion; is not medical “treatment” under medical, legal or common definitions. And the Governor’s administrative order concedes this, at page thirteen, as we discuss below.
The Governor’s Minnesota Mask Mandate
On July 22, 2020, Minnesota’s Governor signed “Executive Order 20-81: Requiring Minnesotans to Wear a Face Covering in Certain Settings to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.”
At 16 pages, it is lengthy. But it generally asserts: “Minnesotans must wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings.” (Page three.)
The enforcement provisions:
“Any individual [adult, non-student] who willfully violates this Executive Order is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and upon conviction must be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.”
And
“Any business owner, manager, or supervisor who fails to comply with this Executive Order is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction must be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days.”
So the Governor’s Minnesota mask mandate claims a petty misdemeanor violation for most individuals; and a misdemeanor crime for business owners and employees, who do not comply.
But what legal authority, does this Administrative Order have?
Legal Basis for Governor’s Administrative Order
Remember the three branches of government: the legislative, the executive and the judicial? The People created them and delegated limited powers of government; in the United States and the Minnesota Constitutions.
So the Constitution is the highest law of the land. Any lesser forms of law that contradict the Constitution are void, and unenforceable; regardless of what they claim.
Only through the Constitution, we authorize the legislative branch of government to create laws in the form of statutes. These statutes, though inferior to the Constitution; are superior to the Administrative Rules, Regulations and Orders of the Governor’s executive branch.
And finally, the executive branch can create administrative Rules and Orders; but only to the extent delegated by the legislature by statute. So these administrative Rules and Orders may not conflict with the higher forms of law, the Constitution and the Statutes. And if they do, the administrative Rules and Orders are unenforceable.
This includes the Governor’s Minnesota mask mandate, just another administrative order.
Minnesota’s Statutory Delegation of Emergency Powers
Is the Governor’s Minnesota mask mandate authorized by law? First, let’s look at the legal authority the Governor claims in the administrative order.
It explicitly cites, on page two, Minnesota Statutes 2019, §12.02 and §12.21, subdivision 3(7). But neither gives the Governor the power to override Minnesota Statutes.
Then, on page three, the administrative order paraphrases Minnesota Statutes §12.32:
“such orders and rules have the force and effect of law during the peacetime emergency. Any inconsistent rules or ordinances of any agency or political subdivision of the state are suspended during the pendency of the emergency.”
Notice the language: “inconsistent rules or ordinances of any agency or political subdivision of the state.”
So, the statute does not authorize the Governor to contradict Minnesota Statutes; but only administrative rules; and ordinances of political subdivisions of the State.
And, “Rules and ordinances of any agency or political subdivision of the state” are inferior to State Statutes and the Minnesota and U.S. Constitutions.
As the Minnesota Supreme Court notes:
“While ‘administrative agencies may adopt regulations to implement or make specific the language of a statute, they cannot adopt a conflicting rule.'”
Hirsch v. Bartley-Lindsay Co., 537 NW 2d 480 (Minn: 1995)
So, the Governor has no lawful basis to “order” people to commit crimes, like wear a mask in public.
The Administrative Order Explicitly Cites the Mask Crime Statute
On page thirteen, the Governor’s administrative order (Minnesota mask mandate) specifically mentions the Minnesota Mask Crime Statute:
“Wearing a face covering in compliance with this Executive Order or local ordinances, rules, or orders is not a violation of Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 609.735.”
This concedes that the medical “treatment” exception in the Mask Crime Statute does not apply to mask-wearing to prevent contagion.
And this concedes that the administrative order is in direct conflict with the Minnesota Mask Crime statute.
Their strategy appears to provide a defense to criminal prosecution under Minnesota’s Mask Crime law, under the administrative order.
The flaw in that strategy is that any administrative order is inferior law to any statute. And public mask-wearing remains a crime under the Minnesota Mask Crime Statute. Moreover, that statute has not been repealed.
As a result, we have an invalid executive order; “requiring” people to commit an act which Minnesota Statutes make a crime.
So, it’s still a crime to wear a mask in a public place. And the administrative order can’t and doesn’t change that.
Can You Blame a Governor for Trying?
And at the end of the administrative order, they concede that their Minnesota mask mandate admin order may be illegal:
“A [judicial] determination that any provision of this Executive Order is invalid will not affect the enforceability of any other provision of this Executive Order. Rather, the invalid provision will be modified to the extent necessary so that it is enforceable.”
Legislative Intent
The Coronavirus response began early in the 2020 Minnesota legislative session.
And despite widespread discussion of the Minnesota Mask Crime Statute, no legislator attempted to amend it.
Moreover, since the legislature’s adjournment, the Governor reconvened the legislature, twice. They could have easily repealed the Minnesota Mask Crime Statute. But they chose not to.
Instead, so far the legislature still chooses to continue the public mask-wearing crime statute; even during the COVID response of 2020.
Conclusion
Much of the administrative order discusses public policy issues. This article, however, does not. We take no position here on: (1) whether masks are a good or bad idea for any particular person; or (2) whether the government could enact a mask mandate properly through legislation. Rather, this is a purely legal analysis, pointing out current Minnesota law.
And to the extent that the administrative order claims a legal basis to “mandate” masks and create penalties for non-compliance; the Minnesota mask mandate is illegal and unenforceable. It’s basic legal flaws are:
- The administrative order attempts to assert authority not-delegated by statute.
- And the administrative order contradicts and conflicts with a statute (the Mask Crime Statute).
Remember, our focus here is solely upon the penalty provisions of the administrative order, the petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor charges. As we have shown, those are illegal and unenforceable.
Why does the admin order assert a non-business, individual penalty, so far just a petty misdemeanor fine? Is there some strategy behind that choice?
Police, Arrest, Conviction, Jail?
But if any person, business-related or not, should face criminal or petty misdemeanor charges under this administrative order; their defense should prevail in court, to avoid conviction and jail. Here we provide the legal basis for that defense.
And for persons facing business-related charges; another defense is avoidance of aiding, abetting, encouraging or conspiring with others to commit the crime of public mask wearing.
About the Author
Attorney Thomas C. Gallagher is a criminal defense lawyer in Minneapolis with over three decades experience.
He continues to help people during the COVID response.
And Attorney Thomas C. Gallagher writes and speaks on criminal law and public policy issues regularly.
Do you agree that the Minnesota legislature should repeal current Minnesota law making public mask-wearing a crime? See our related article: Repeal the Minnesota anti-mask law? We’re all criminals now