Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_20-cv-08081/USCOURTS-azd-3_20-cv-08081-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Joseph Martin McGhee, 

Plaintiff,

v. 

City of Flagstaff, et al.,

Defendants.

No. CV-20-08081-PCT-GMS

ORDER 

Pending before the Court are Defendant Governor Douglas Ducey (“Governor 

Ducey”)’s Motion for Judicial Notice, (Doc. 27), and Plaintiff Joseph McGhee’s Motion 

for Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts, (Doc. 35). For the following reasons, both 

Motions are granted in part and denied in part.

I. Legal Standard

Federal Rule of Evidence 201(b) provides that a court “may judicially notice a fact 

that is not subject to reasonable dispute because it: (1) is generally known within the trial 

court’s territorial jurisdiction; or (2) can be accurately and readily determined from sources 

whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.” Rule 201(c)(2) further provides that the 

Court “must take judicial notice if a party requests it and the court is supplied with the 

necessary information.” “The court may take judicial notice at any stage of the 

proceeding.” Fed. R. Evid. 201(d).

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 1 of 13
- 2 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

II. Defendant Governor Ducey’s Motion for Judicial Notice

Governor Ducey requests the Court take judicial notice of certain facts and publicly 

available documents that are relevant to Plaintiff’s constitutional and statutory challenges 

to two specific executive orders concerning the 2020 novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”)

pandemic. The facts and records presented for judicial notice fall into four categories: (1) 

statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and 

Arizona Department of Health Services (“ADHS”) on the reported number of cases and 

deaths from COVID-19 and, for comparison purposes, CDC statistics on the number of 

deaths from the (H1N1)pdm09 virus (“H1N1”) and from the United States National 

Archives and Records Administration (“National Archives”) on the number of American 

deaths in the Vietnam War; (2) public statements regarding COVID-19 from the United 

Nations World Health Organization (“WHO”), President Donald Trump, and the United 

States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”); (3) public statements regarding 

COVID-19 from Governor Ducey; and (4) United States Census Bureau Data concerning 

Arizona’s population. 

1. Publicly Reported Statistics on COVID-19 and Comparison 

Figures.

Governor Ducey explains that courts routinely take judicial notice of statistics 

compiled and released by governmental agencies. See, e.g., United States v. OrozcoAcosta, 607 F.3d 1156, 1164 n.5 (9th Cir. 2010) (taking judicial notice of statistics 

compiled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice); 

see also Changjiang Cruise Overseas Travel Co., 630 F. Supp. 2d 255, 263 n.3 (E.D.N.Y. 

2008) (“The Court can take judicial notice of government statistics.”). However, it is not 

appropriate to take judicial notice of facts subject to reasonable dispute. Fed. R. Evid. 

201(b); see also Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 689-90 (9th Cir. 2001) (finding 

the district court erred by taking judicial notice of disputed matters to support its ruling).

Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint (TAC) in large part disputes the accuracy and 

methodology of the government statistics reporting COVID-19 cases and related deaths. 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 2 of 13
- 3 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic is still unfolding and the testing capabilities to assess 

how infectious and lethal the virus is are constantly changing. Any statistics at this juncture 

are not only disputed in this action but are inherently unreliable and the Court declines to 

take judicial notice of them

However, the Court finds no error in taking judicial notice of the fact that 

publications containing the purported statistics exist. See Lee, 250 F.3d at 689–90

(reasoning that the court could take judicial notice that certain documents existed and that 

they purport certain facts, but could not take judicial notice of disputed facts within those 

documents “for the truth of the facts recited therein”) (internal citations and quotations 

omitted).

The Court, therefore, takes judicial notice that the following publications exist, but 

declines to take notice of the true of the facts they assert:

1. As of May 4, 2020, the CDC reports 1,152,372 COVID-19 cases and 67,456

deaths in the United States. See Cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in 

the U.S., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (May 4, 2020),

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html).

2. As of May 4, 2020, ADHS reports 8,919 COVID-19 cases and 362 deaths in

Arizona. Data Dashboard, Arizona Department of Health Services (May 4, 

2020), https://azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-diseasecontrol/infectious-diseaseepidemiology/ covid-19/dashboards/index.php

3. By comparison, from April 12, 2009 to April 10, 2010, CDC estimated there

were 60.8 million cases and 12,469 deaths in the United States due to the 

H1N1 virus. 2009 H1N1 Pandemic (H1N1pdm09 virus), Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (June 11, 2019), https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemicresources/2009-h1n1-pandemic.html.

4. As another point of comparison, the National Archives reports that there were

58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties in the Vietnam War. See Vietnam War 

U.S. Military Fatal Casualty Statistics, National Archives (Aug. 15, 2016),

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 3 of 13
- 4 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.

2. Public Statements Regarding COVID-19 from the WHO or 

Federal Government.

Governor Ducey asks the Court to take notice that the WHO declared a public 

emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak and classified the outbreak as a pandemic. 

Governor Ducey also presents publications from HHS declaring a public health emergency 

and President Trump declaring a national emergency both relating to COVID-19. Also 

presented for judicial notice are CDC and President Trump’s published guidance 

concerning how to combat and slow the spread of COVID-19 and CDC statements on the 

manner and speed at which the virus is spreading. All the proposed statements are available 

on government websites.

Because government publications are matters of public record and can be easily 

verified, they are proper subjects of judicial notice. See Corrie v. Caterpillar, Inc., 503 

F.3d 974, 978 n.2 (9th Cir. 2007) (explaining that a court may take judicial notice of a

government publication); see also Santa Monica Food Not Bombs v. City of Santa Monica, 

450 F.3d 1022, 1025 n.2 (9th Cir. 2006) (taking judicial notice of public records that “can 

be accessed at Santa Monica’s official website”); Gent v. CUNA Mut. Ins. Soc’y, 611 F.3d 

79, 84 n.5 (1st Cir. 2010) (taking judicial notice of information concerning the transmission 

of Lyme Disease from the CDC website). Moreover, the proposed publications are 

relevant, not for the truth of what they assert, but for their existence. To avoid taking 

judicial notice of disputable facts within matters of public records, the Court limits its 

judicial notice of the proposed publications to their existence and that they contain the 

purported statements. See Lee, 250 F.3d at 689–90.

The Court takes judicial notice that the following publications exist and purport the 

asserted facts:

1. On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared a public health emergency of 

international concern related to the COVID-19 outbreak. See WHO DirectorGeneral’s Statement on IHR Emergency Committee on Novel Coronavirus 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 4 of 13
- 5 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

(2019-nCoV), World Health Organization (Jan. 30, 2020), 

https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-statement-onihr-emergency-committee-on-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov).

2. On January 31, 2020, HHS declared a Public Health Emergency related to the 

COVID-19 outbreak. See Secretary Azar Declares Public Health Emergency 

for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus, U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services (Jan. 31, 2020), 

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/01/31/secretary-azar-declares-publichealth-emergency-us-2019-novel-coronavirus.html; Determination that a 

Public Health Emergency Exists, U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services (Jan. 31, 2020), 

https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/2019-

nCoV.aspx.

3. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. 

See WHO Director-General’s Opening Remarks at the Media Briefing on 

COVID-19—11 March 2020, World Health Organization (Mar. 11, 2020), 

https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-openingremarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020 (“We have 

therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a 

pandemic.”). 

4. On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency due to the 

health implications of the COVID-19 virus. See Proclamation on Declaring a 

National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) 

Outbreak, The White House (Mar. 13, 2020), 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaringnational-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/.

5. On March 15, 2020, CDC issued guidance recommending the cancellation of 

community-wide gatherings larger than 250 individuals. See Get Your Mass 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 5 of 13
- 6 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready: Interim Guidance for 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (Mar. 15, 2020), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-

ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html). The 

guidance also suggested that “gatherings of more than 10 people for 

organizations that serve higher-risk populations” should be cancelled. Id.

6. On March 16, 2020, CDC and President Trump issued updated guidance 

recommending that individuals avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people 

and use drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options at restaurants and bars to slow 

the spread of COVID-19. See The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for 

America: 30 Days to Slow the Spread, The White House (Mar. 16, 2020), 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/coronavirus-guidelinesamerica/; https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf.

7. The CDC has stated that “[t]he virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading very 

easily and sustainably between people. Information from the ongoing COVID19 pandemic suggest that this virus is spreading more efficiently than 

influenza, but not as efficiently as measles, which is highly contagious.” 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): How COVID-19 Spreads, Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (Apr. 13, 2020), 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covidspreads.html.

8. According to the CDC, “[m]aintaining good social distance (about 6 feet) is 

very important in preventing the spread of COVID-19.” Id. 

9. On April 15, 2020, the CDC published a factsheet on COVID-19 that states 

that “COVID-19 is primarily spread from person to person,” and a person “can 

become infected by coming into close contact (about 6 feet or two arm lengths) 

with a person who has COVID-19.” What You Should Know About COVIDCase 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 6 of 13
- 7 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

19 to Protect Yourself and Others, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(Apr. 15, 2020), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-

ncov-factsheet.pdf.

10.According to the CDC factsheet, “COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild 

(or no symptoms) to severe illness.” Id.

11.According to the CDC factsheet, “[e]veryone is at risk of getting COVID-19.” 

Id.

12.The CDC’s factsheet provides the following recommendation for individuals to 

protect themselves and others: “Get deliveries and takeout, and limit in-person 

contact as much as possible.” Id.

13.On April 16, 2020, CDC and President Trump issued updated guidance 

designed for “opening up America again.” Guidelines: Opening Up America 

Again, The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/04/Guidelines-for-Opening-Up-America-Again.pdf (last 

visited May 4, 2020).

14.According to the April 16, 2020, guidance, States must satisfy gating criteria 

before proceeding to phasing opening including that (a) there must be a 

“[d]ownward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported within a 14-

day period AND [d]ownward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic cases 

reported within a 14-day period”; (b) there must be a “[d]ownward trajectory 

of documented cases within a 14-day period OR [d]ownward trajectory of 

positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or 

increasing volume of tests)”; and (c) hospitals must be able to “[t]reat all 

patients without crisis care AND [r]obust testing program in place for at-risk 

healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing.” Id.

15.The April 16 guidance states that once the gating criteria is met, States may 

implement a phased approach “at Governors’ discretion.” Id.

16.The CDC has also reported that “PPE shortages” and shortages of other 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 7 of 13
- 8 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

medical equipment—including facemasks and ventilators—“are currently 

posing a tremendous challenge to the US healthcare system because of the 

COVID-19 pandemic.” Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and 

Equipment, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Apr. 22, 2020), 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html.

3. Public Statements Regarding COVID-19 from Governor Ducey.

Governor Ducey also asks the Court to take judicial notice of various executive 

orders he has issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, their contents, and the 

contents of a slide deck from a public briefing titled “Arizona Together.” The Arizona 

Together presentation includes statistics about Arizona’s hospital capacity, the current state 

of the Executive Orders, and Governor Ducey’s plan for “returning stronger.” 

As established above, government publications are the proper subject for judicial 

notice and the contents of Governor Ducey’s executive orders are not subject to reasonable 

dispute. Moreover, they are also attached to the TAC. Thus, the Court will take judicial 

notice of the proposed executive orders and the selected portions of their contents. 

However, because the “Arizona Together” presentation largely concerns Governor 

Ducey’s plan for future actions and disputed statistics, it lacks the indicia of reliability 

necessary for judicial notice of its truth. Thus, the Court will take judicial notice that the 

presentation exists and that it purports certain facts. Id.

The Court takes judicial notice that:

1. On March 20, 2020, Governor Ducey issued EO 2020-11 expanding access to 

unemployment benefits for those affected by COVID-19 by waiving the waiting 

period and active job search requirements. See Executive Order 2020-11: 

Ensuring Individuals Whose Employment Is Affected by COVID-19 Have 

Access to Unemployment Insurance, Office of the Governor Doug Ducey (Mar. 

20, 2020), https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/eo_2020-11_sw.pdf. 

Specifically, EO 2020-11 expands access to “a. Individual[s] whose employer 

has permanently or temporarily ceased or drastically reduced operations due to 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 8 of 13
- 9 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

COVID-19 resulting in a reduction of wages . . . ; b. individuals who, due to 

requirements that the individual be quarantined, are not able to work and do not 

have any available paid leave even if the individual has an expectation of 

returning to work after the quarantine is over; c. Individuals that leave 

employment due to a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member

who has been infected with COVID-19; or d. Individuals that for any other 

scenario are separated from work for reasons related to COVID-19” so long as 

it is consistent with federal and guidance.” Id.

2. On March 23, 2020, Governor Ducey issued EO 2020-12, prohibiting the closure 

of essential businesses. See Executive Order 2020-12: Prohibiting the Closure 

of Essential Businesses, Office of the Governor Doug Ducey (Mar. 23, 2020), 

https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/eo_2021_0.pdf.

3. EO 2020-12 defines in detail what constitutes an essential activity including 

healthcare and public health operations, human services operations, essential 

infrastructure operations, essential government functions, and essential 

businesses and operations. Id. Essential businesses and operations is further 

defined to include stores that sell groceries and medicine; food beverage and 

agriculture; outdoor recreation activities; organizations that provide charitable 

and social services; media; gas stations and businesses need for transportation; 

financial institutions; hardware and supply stores; critical trades; mail, post, 

shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services; educational institutions; 

laundry services; restaurants for consumption off-premises; supplies to work 

from home; supplies for essential businesses and operations; transportation; 

home-based care and services; residential facilities and shelters; professional and 

personal services; day care centers for employees exempted by EO 2020-12; 

manufacture distribution, and supply chain for critical products and industries; 

hotels and motels; and funeral services. Id.

4. On May 4, 2020, Governor Ducey issued EO 2020-34. See Executive Order 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 9 of 13
- 10 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2020-34: Building on COVID-19 Successes, Office of the Governor Doug 

Ducey (May 4, 2020), https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/eo_2020-

34_salons_dine_in.pdf.

5. EO 2020-34 modifies EO 2020-09 by stating “dine-in services” at restaurants 

“may resume” starting on May 11, 2020, “provided they establish and implement 

protocols and best practices for businesses to address COVID-19, including 

enacting physical distancing policies, limiting the number of diners and 

following protocols as directed by the [federal government and ADHS].” Id.

6. Governor Ducey issued updated guidance for Arizonans and businesses, 

including a slide deck from a public briefing titled “Arizona Together.” Updated 

Guidance for Arizonans, Businesses, Office of the Governor Doug Ducey (April 

29, 2020), https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/04/updated-guidancearizonans-businesses; Arizona Together, Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, 

https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/related-docs/covid42720-pos.pdf (last 

visited May 4, 2020).

The following statements are noticed as being contained in the “Arizona Together” 

presentation, but are not noticed for the truth of the matter asserted:

1. The Arizona Together presentations states there were 7,202 positive cases of 

COVID-19 from 68,813 tests, throughout fifteen counties in Arizona, resulting 

in 304 deaths through April 28, 2020. Arizona Together, Office of the Governor 

Doug Ducey, https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/relateddocs/covid42720-pos.pdf (last visited May 4, 2020).

2. The Arizona Together presentation states that over the span of eighteen days

(April 11 through April 28), between 7 and 10% of hospital inpatient beds in 

Arizona were occupied by COVID-19 patients, with four of the last five days 

reporting 10% capacity. Id.

3. The Arizona Together presentation states that over the span of nineteen days 

(April 10 through April 28), between 13 and 20% of intensive care unit hospital 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 10 of 13
- 11 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, with seventeen of those days 

reporting 17% capacity or higher. Id.

4. The Arizona Together presentation also states that over the span of nineteen days 

(April 10 through April 28), between 10 and 15% of the ventilators available 

were being used by COVID-19 patients. Id.

5. The Arizona Together presentation describes a planned “Arizona testing blitz,” 

which is a “[p]artnership with community labs to rapidly increase diagnostic 

testing availability at drive through sites” where “anyone who thinks they are 

infected or recently exposed to COVID-19 can be tested.” Id. In addition, 

antibody testing will be made available in early May to provide testing “without 

needing a provider’s order or insurance in Arizona.” Id.

6. The Arizona Together presentation states that Governor Ducey’s plan for 

“returning stronger” includes “increas[ing] testing to return in May while 

maintaining strong physical distancing” by “phas[ing] in return based on the 

recommendations by the CDC and health experts through May and June.” Id.

7. According to the Arizona Together presentation, several businesses and services 

are currently “open” under Governor Ducey’s Executive Orders relating to 

COVID-19, including health and public health operations, construction, 

manufacturing, delivery and take out dining, grocery stores, pharmacies, 

essential retail, gas stations, hardware stores, hotels and motels, car dealers, auto 

mechanics, state parks, golf courses, charitable and social services, Goodwill, 

media, banks, credit unions, critical trades, postal services, laundry services, and 

elective surgeries. Id.

8. The Arizona Together presentation states that other businesses and services 

remain temporarily “closed” under Governor Ducey’s Executive Orders, 

including schools, universities, restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, barber 

shops, salons, spas, concerts, spring training, large venues, college sports, Major 

League Baseball, casinos, NBA, weddings, bowling alleys, large outdoor events, 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 11 of 13
- 12 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

small businesses, most retail, and limited daycares. Id.

9. The Arizona Together presentation outlined Governor Ducey’s plan for (a) 

“partial reopening of retail” as applied to small businesses starting on May 4, 

2020 through May 8, 2020; (b) reopening dine-in restaurants based on 

information from the restaurant industry and CDC guidance; and (c) executing 

the Executive Order authorizing elective surgeries if the healthcare organization 

“can demonstrate adequate capacity.” Id.

4. Census Data on Arizona Population.

The Ninth Circuit has explicitly held that Census Bureau statistics “meet the 

requirements of Rule 201(b).” United States v. Esquivel, 88 F.3d 722, 726-27 (9th Cir. 

1996); see also Tampa Elec. Co. v. Nashville Coal Co., 365 U.S. 320, 332 n.10 (1961) 

(citing Census Bureau statistics). The census data is relevant to assessing Plaintiff’s claim 

that the COVID-19 pandemic does not pose “extreme peril” to Arizonans and the 

constitutionality of Governor Ducey’s response to the pandemic. The Court finds no basis 

to deny judicial notice of proposed data.

The Court takes judicial notice that:

1. The Census Bureau estimates that as of July 1, 2019, Arizona has a total 

population of 7,278,717. See QuickFacts: Arizona, United States Census 

Bureau, 

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/AZ/AGE775218#AGE775218 

(last visited May 4, 2020).

2. The Census Bureau reports that 17.5% of Arizona’s population is aged 65 or 

over. Id.

III. Plaintiff’s Motion for Judicial Notice

Plaintiff’s TAC asserts various facts derived from assorted studies that dispute the 

infectiousness and fatality of COVID-19 as reported by the WHO and CDC. To support 

his claims that COVID-19 does not present the type of emergent circumstances necessary 

to justify the executive orders and proclamations challenged in this action, Plaintiff asks 

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 12 of 13
- 13 -

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

the Court to take judicial notice of seven studies concerning COVID-19’s infection and 

mortality rate, data concerning the mortality rates of H1N1, the Plague, and Small Pox, and 

statements from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (“CSTE”)’s position 

statement regarding what constitutes a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

As established above, purported facts regarding the severity of COVID-19 are not 

proper subjects for judicial notice in this matter not only because they are in dispute, but 

because they simply cannot be definitively determined while the pandemic is currently 

unfolding. Thus, while the Court will take judicial notice that the studies submitted by 

Plaintiff for judicial notice exist, the Court declines to give any credence to the underlying 

facts contained therein. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant Governor Douglas Ducey’s Motion 

for Judicial Notice (Doc. 27) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

IT IS FURHTER ORDERED that Plaintiff Joseph McGhee’s Motion for Judicial 

Notice of Adjudicative Facts (Doc. 35) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

Dated this 8th day of May, 2020.

Case 3:20-cv-08081-GMS Document 41 Filed 05/08/20 Page 13 of 13