Legal World Adjusts to Pandemic
As different parts of the country adjust to Coronavirus outbreaks of varying degrees of intensity, government agencies and courts are issuing revised operating procedures.
The Federal Circuit announced today that some of the cases of the April argument calendar are being removed and will be submitted on the briefs. In cases remaining on the argument calendar, if counsel for either party is located outside the National Capital area, the argument will be conducted by telephonic conference at the date and time previously scheduled. In cases scheduled for argument where counsel for both parties are local, as of now, the court plans to proceed with in-person argument as previously scheduled. Parties in all cases will be notified individually as to how we plan to proceed in their case.
The International Trade Commission (ITC), is postponing hearings scheduled in the next 60 days. The Commission will re-evaluate the schedule after 45 days for any additional postponements. All discovery will continue and any essential outside participation by staff will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Guidance on this matter will be forthcoming.
The USPTO has announced that no in-person meetings will be permitted (i.e., no examiner interviews or PTAB hearings). Only video will be permitted going forward.
Additional information on popular districts/courts around the country is provided in the table below:
| Court | Status | Notes | Last Checked |
| NDIL | Open |
Nothing to report
|
3/12/2020 |
| DDC | Open |
Any changes in operations due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) will be announced: here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| 7th Circuit | Open |
The court is closely monitoring the progression of COVID-19 to determine possible impact to court operations. See News and Announcements: here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| Federal Circuit | Open | For the April sitting some arguments will be by video conference and certain appeals will be on submission: see: here. | 3/12/2020 |
| DC Circuit | Open | Restricted Access starting 03/13/2020, See: here. | 3/12/2020 |
| Cook County | Open | Some procedural changes, See: here. | 3/12/2020 |
| DC Courts | Open | Nothing to report. | 3/12/2020 |
| SDNY | Open |
Restricted Access, See: here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| EDNY | Open |
Restricted Access, See: here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| NY State Courts | Open |
Restricted Access, See here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| 2nd Circuit | Open | Restricted Access, See Announcements here. | 3/12/2020 |
| NDOH | Open |
Possible restricted access, See: here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| Del. Ch. | Open |
The court will conduct video conferences when possible. For other protocols see: here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| D.Mass | Open |
Restricted Access by Visitors, see here. All Trials set before 4/27/20 delayed, see here.
|
3/12/2020 |
| 1st Circuit | Open | No further information | 3/12/2020 |
| Mass Super. Courts | Open | No further information | 3/12/2020 |
| NDCA | Open |
Restricted Access, see: here
|
3/12/2020 |
| CDCA | Open | Restricted Access, see: here | 3/12/2020 |
| 9th Circuit | Open | The Court has cancelled its en banc hearings and all non-case related meetings scheduled for the week of March 9th. | 3/12/2020 |
| San Francisco County Superior Court | Open | The court is monitoring the situation. | 3/12/2020 |
| LA County Superior Court | Open | The court is monitoring the situation. | 3/12/2020 |