Judiciary News
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
![Image of a gavel laying on a laptop keyboard.](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
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
![Image of a courtroom with someone holding a piece of paper with the word coronavirus printed.](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
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.
Online Tools Make Civics Accessible to Teachers, Parents, and Teens
Published onMarch 25, 2020
In communities forced to quarantine because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), social studies teachers are venturing into the distance learning space and parents are seeking ways to keep homebound teenagers constructively occupied. A series of U.S. Courts online civics resources can help fill this void, by stimulating critical thinking and thoughtful discussions.
Annual Report and Judicial Business of 2019 Now Available
Published onMarch 17, 2020
In 2019, the Judiciary undertook several initiatives aimed at ensuring that the federal court system operates in an efficient, effective, and responsive way to maintain the trust and confidence of the public – a pillar of judicial independence. These initiatives, along with a detailed accounting of the work of the federal courts during 2019, are described in the Annual Report of the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), published on Tuesday.
Federal Judiciary Confronts Coronavirus Spread: Judicial Conference Acts on Court Administration Matters
Published onMarch 17, 2020
The Judicial Conference of the United States today convened by teleconference today due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
Judiciary Preparedness for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Published onMarch 12, 2020
Federal courts are individually coordinating with state and local health officials to obtain local information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), and some have issued orders relating to court business, and public and employee safety.