Political divisions over Gov. J.B. Pritzker's statewide stay-at-home restrictions were on full display Monday, as a judge issued a temporary injunction allowing a Republican legislator to disregard the order, a decision Pritzker quickly denounced while forcefully defending his actions to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The ruling by Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney came in a lawsuit filed by Rep. Darren Bailey that challenged Pritzker's authority to extend his stay-at-home order beyond the initial 30 days under the state's Emergency Management Act.

While the ruling applied only to Bailey, it could open the door for other Illinois residents to seek similar relief from the stay-at-home order, with McHaney's injunction as a justification.

In seeking the injunction, Bailey said he is "irreparably harmed each day he is subjected to" Pritzker's executive order, and asked the judge to enjoin the governor or anyone under his authority from enforcing it against him.

McHaney's ruling said Pritzker was prohibited "from in any way enforcing the March 20 executive order against Darren Bailey forcing him to isolate and quarantine in his home," or any subsequent orders that would do the same.