Courts are already utilizing many safety protocols to protect those that need to enter their halls. Courts currently use masks, social distancing, symptom checks, plexiglass dividers, rigorous cleaning protocols, better air filters, additional portable HEPA air filters, and increased fresh air circulation. But how can they offer even more protection to the public? Early on … Read Article
Courts across the country are taking very different approaches to resuming in-person proceedings during the ongoing pandemic. Even within individual states, courts are making different choices. Today the SmartRules blog looks at courts in the two states with recently devastating outbreaks – New York and California. California courts are exercising different levels of precautions, county … Read Article
Pop-Up Vaccination Sites New Yorkers are having vaccines delivered to their neighborhoods. The state has created more than 100 mobile “pop-up” vaccination sites. With each site vaccinating more than 3,700 people a week, 46,000 New Yorkers have received their first shots. These mobile sites will be set up again after three weeks to administer second … Read Article
According to the US Courts, bankruptcy filings fell “sharply” in 2020. With the wide-spread damage to our local (and global) economies, it was assumed that we would be seeing a lot of bankruptcies by this point. In fact, in September of 2020 Forbes predicted a coming “bankruptcy tidal wave.” In January of 2021, bankruptcy filings … Read Article
With towns, counties, and states around the country (not to mention around the world) being on alert level red, it is obvious that we still have a long way to go before we come out of the pandemic. Yet many courts around the country are requiring in-person appearances by parties and their attorneys. While some … Read Article
46 New York’s supreme court justices are being forced to retire this year due to their age and due to pandemic-caused shortfalls. These judges are considering banding together and suing the state. This could be a very challenging case for the justices as state law says that they can be retired at the age of … Read Article
Since the pandemic started, online shopping has been seen as a safer option than braving supermarkets and other brick and mortar retailers. But during the first few months of the pandemic, workers called Amazon’s health and safety practices into question, claiming that Amazon was not following local, state, and federal public health guidelines. When employees’ … Read Article
While unemployment claims are at their lowest since March, the unemployment rate has stayed steadily at the highest rates in nearly 40 years. And with the $600 per week supplement gone, far too many Americans have suddenly been thrown into the deep end of poverty. While many states have extended their eviction bans, people in … Read Article
From socially distanced courtrooms to virtual hearings, courts around the country are continuing to adapt to the ongoing pandemic environment that continues to be the world we live in. Los Angeles has created a $0 bail schedule for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies to “curb the spread of COVID-19 in jails and surrounding communities.’ California courts … Read Article