Attorneys on behalf of the county submitted a response to Gov. Tom Wolf's seeking of a stay on his COVID-19 mitigation orders while the appeal process continues for a court ruling that struck them down.

“I'm optimistic the judge will deny the stay, but it's anybody's guess what a federal judge might do,” said Butler attorney Tom King, of Dillon McCandless King Coulter and Graham.

Last week, Wolf requested an appeal and stay, both separate motions, just two days after U.S. District Court Judge William Stickman IV issued a 66-page opinion that found some of the Wolf administration's COVID-19 mitigation efforts had violated citizens' constitutional rights.

In the request for the stay, Wolf's attorneys argued that the stay would help to maintain the public health.

The county countered the state with an argument that the court already gave an opinion that the mitigation efforts violated constitutional rights.

Read more in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.