This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.  in the midst of the Ebola uncertainty all eyes are on the states that have already moved to quarantine people showing Ebola symptoms with Governor Chris Christie facing criticism for the manner in which the nurse was isolated the new work now other states are stepping up their attention Virginia and Maryland are monitoring travelers from West Africa in about eleven soldiers who traveled there have been placed in a controlled monitoring facility in Italy in Italy but ... are forced quarantines legal WSJ's Ashby Jones is here to discuss this ... yet they are they did fairly well aam ... states ... have brought power to detain people in situations like this where you know public health might really be be at risk so they have ... brought power and it hasn't happened that often we don't get used to quarantine power that much ... ALM so it really had to quirks really haven't gotten into it and push back and told us what the limits or on that our ... policies and challenges now that will force the courts to show the limits we might I mean ... that we may still see one in regard to this woman who was detained over the weekend in your time she was captain in it and your mercy Hospital ... she complained about its it was unfair said the treatment wasn't proper riot in and out she a lawyer and I aam it look like they were think the real Easter today but for a while they were talking the filing a lawsuit and they might still so well in her primary argument ... the ITC has a key yet well I mean her primary organ with the look you are depriving these of ... liberty without due process a flaw which is ... a violation of constitutional rights ... aam to can also be the cause of action might false imprisonment other things like that on ... the improper to Libya to process claims ... when she complained about how she was actually the manner in which she was quarantined ... I don't think she really injected is much to the fact that she was quarantine ... are there other states considering the conditions ... under which they were quarantined people ... yet I've heard other states that all our aam looking more to it and how they're going to do this what what they have put out some ... you know sort of their thoughts on how their ... manner might differ from that of New Jersey's et-cetera but I wouldn't have to imagine that ... aam right now we're doing is are sort of you know ... of a car going back and forth you know maybe the the the federal government didn't go far enough maybe the New York New Jersey went too far ... it's all of its common active calibration at this point trying to figure out exactly what is right what is legal what is proper etc so imagine the states are looking very carefully what future senior it's gotta be tough for those states because we do live in a Beery litigious society so ... aam ... since it is about protecting the public's interest is there a possibility ... that they open themselves up to more liability if they don't take these measures on that's exactly right I mean people were talking aam a lot about bringing suit against the to the hostel in Dallas who treated the first Ebola patients that were there ... aam did because they didn't follow the proper protocol so that was the allegations of cetera ... aam it's I think that ... the enforcing debt situation we live in if you if you do too much a new baby face a lawsuit if you don't do enough ... aam and you know in fact other people as result of your actions you also face litigation ... very challenging time it sure is so much good stuff thanks alot
As more states begin monitoring travelers from Ebola-stricken countries, questions arise over the legality of forced quarantines. WSJ's Ashby Jones and Lee Hawkins discuss. Photo: AP