Judiciary News
Virtual Internships Provide Inside Look at Court
Published onJune 16, 2020
For more than a decade, an annual summer intern program hosted by the Northern District of Alabama has given law students a vivid close-up view of the criminal and civil process.
Officers Innovate in the Field During COVID-19 Crisis
Published onJune 11, 2020
Federal probation and pretrial offices replaced many of their face-to-face operations with digital alternatives to protect the well-being of officers, the individuals they supervise, and the public, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers now utilize an array of telephone and video conferencing and location monitoring services, administer drug tests remotely, and facilitate telemedicine sessions to fulfill investigative and supervision duties from afar.
Judiciary Issues Report on Restarting Jury Trials
Published onJune 10, 2020
A comprehensive new report on conducting federal jury trials and convening grand juries during the pandemic details the number of factors for courts to consider, from changes to prospective juror questionnaires to creating safe spaces for jurors to deliberate safely.
Public Input Received on Possible Emergency Procedures
Published onJune 4, 2020
The Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure and its five advisory committees have posted public input that was received, regarding possible rule amendments that could ameliorate future national emergencies’ effects on court operations.
Judges Urged to Go All-Electronic in Clerkship Hiring
Published onMay 28, 2020
Students and law schools are struggling to complete applications for coveted judicial clerkships during the global pandemic. And federal judges are being urged to help them by using an all-electronic hiring process instead of paper applications and in-person interviews.
Courts and Classes are Closed, But Judges Make Virtual House Calls During COVID-19 Crisis
Published onMay 14, 2020
Schools and courthouses may be closed because of the coronavirus, but judges and court system professionals are making virtual house calls to bring civics education to home-bound students in New Hampshire and Missouri and programs are underway in other states. The Second Circuit is providing robust online resources that teachers, parents, and others can use in the distance learning environment.
New Bankruptcy Filings Fall 1.1 Percent
Published onMay 6, 2020
Bankruptcy filings fell by 1.1 percent for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2020, compared with the year ending March 31, 2019. According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the March 2020 annual bankruptcy filings totaled 764,282, compared with 772,646 cases in the previous year.
Judiciary Seeks Funding, Legislative Changes to Aid COVID-19 Response
Published onMay 5, 2020
The Judiciary has asked Congress for $36.6 million in supplemental funding, as well as several legislative reforms designed to help federal courts respond effectively to the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.
Courts Begin to Consider Guidelines for Reopening
Published onApril 27, 2020
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has distributed to the courts guidelines for restoring operations that rely heavily on conditions in local communities and on objective data from local and state public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
From Suffragist Sashes to Black Armbands, Law Day Distance Learning Focuses on Role of Courts
Published onApril 14, 2020
A new distance-learning video shows how rights activists from the Suffragist and Vietnam protest movements worked through the courts to seek social change.
Courts Deliver Justice Virtually Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Published onApril 8, 2020
From home offices and kitchen tables, federal judges are foregoing their traditional courtroom settings to continue some of their courts’ vital operations virtually amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Judiciary Provides Public, Media Access to Electronic Court Proceedings
Published onApril 3, 2020
Media organizations and the public will be able to access certain criminal proceedings conducted by videoconference or teleconference for the duration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, according to new guidance provided to federal courts.
Courts Search for Protective Gear to Aid Hospitals
Published onApril 1, 2020
Two district courts in Florida have discovered stockpiles of urgently needed protective gear and donated them to local hospitals, prompting a call to federal courts across the country to search for surplus medical supplies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
Judiciary Authorizes Video/Audio Access During COVID-19 Pandemic
Published onMarch 31, 2020
In order to address health and safety concerns in federal courthouses and courtrooms, the Judicial Conference of the United States has temporarily approved the use of video and teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings and access via teleconferencing for civil proceedings during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Courts Suspend Jury Trials in Response to Coronavirus
Published onMarch 26, 2020
Dozens of federal courts have postponed jury trials, grand juries, and other court proceedings to safeguard the health of jurors, court employees, and the public, as COVID-19 cases grow in the U.S. To maintain quick and reliable communication with jurors, most of the 94 federal court districts use an automated messaging system that can send email alerts, phone calls, and text messages informing jurors of courthouse cancellations or changes in service.