Among the 94 U.S. district courts, the “Rocket Docket” is quite special. Officially known as the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), this federal judicial enclave is nationally famous for its long and deeply engrained...more
On August 12, 2022, Chief Justice Heidi E. Brieger of the Massachusetts Superior Court adopted Superior Court Standing Order 1-22, effective September 1, 2022, which expanded the category of proceedings to be “presumptively”...more
As part of the District of New Jersey’s continuing response to the ongoing public health emergency and in light of updated public health guidance and the current extent of the spread of COVID-19 in the state, on August 23,...more
Minnesota’s judicial system is not going back to the way cases were decided prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting June 6, litigators in Minnesota’s courts will have the certainty of knowing in advance which case matters...more
As part of the District of New Jersey’s continuing response to the ongoing public health emergency and in light of the current extent of the spread of COVID-19 in the state, on March 16, 2022, Chief Judge Freda L. Wolfson of...more
A recent decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allows comfort dogs in the courtroom. The case is Commonwealth v. Purnell, 2021 Pa. Lexis 3610 (Pa. Supreme, Sept. 22, 2021). The case comes from Chester County and involves...more
Across the globe, courts have rapidly adapted their practices and procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As waves of infections have spread throughout Canada, its courts have fluctuated between resuming activities...more
On September 13, 2021, Chief Judge Freda J. Wolfson of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey issued Standing Order No. 2021-08, which requires visitors to District of New Jersey Court facilities to...more
Yes, “uncharted territory” is a cliche. And so is “new normal.” But that’s not going to stop us from using both terms here. You might say we’re taking those two tried-and-true tigers by the tail and plowing ahead regardless....more
Nelson Mullins previously wrote about the Alabama Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 111, which was intended to resolve issues raised by the Alabama Supreme Court’s June 2020 opinion in Stiff v. Equivest Financial, LLC. On...more
In June 2020, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an Opinion in Stiff v. Equivest Financial, LLC, where the Court held that a 2013 Bessemer tax sale occurring inside the courthouse — and not on the front steps of the courthouse...more
Even though jury trials are, with limited exceptions, on hold, many federal courthouses have managed to stay open throughout this winter surge of the virus. But as we know all too well here in Washington, DC, the pandemic is...more
We have previously discussed the complex issues surrounding the resumption of jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. We cautioned that the various experimental efforts to resume jury trials taking place in courts around...more
I recently returned to the New Castle County Courthouse for the first time since the initial declaration of a Judicial Emergency by the Court back in March. For those that are curious, here is what you can expect: •Upon...more
To be sure, much has been reported on here at New York Commercial Division Practice concerning Commercial Division innovation — including in the areas of courtroom technology and, more recently, in adapting to the “new norm”...more
Apart from a handful of limited exceptions, North Carolina’s civil courts were closed for almost three months in the Spring of 2020 in response to the community spread of COVID-19 across the state. In June, North Carolina’s...more
On August 17, 2020, the Appellate Division, First Department announced that starting in the September term, and continuing until further notice, it will hold oral arguments both in-person at the courthouse and remotely via...more
June and July saw courts across the country struggling to resume in-person proceedings, with more than a few coughs and hiccups along the way. Courthouses opened only to close days later when an employee fell ill. And several...more
On July 22, 2020, the New York Court of Appeals announced that the Court of Appeals Hall in Albany is now open for in-person filings. The Court will continue to accept mailed and electronic submissions as permitted by its...more
As we enter the fourth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, legislators and regulators are continuing to adapt by enacting rules for the “new normal.” Jurisdictions in the Washington, D.C., region are in various stages of...more
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: No Further Deadline or Statute of Limitations Extensions - On June 24, 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued an order further staying certain hearings and trials...more
On June 16, 2020, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued two new administrative orders and a new “best practices” memorandum adopting changes to guidelines for state court pandemic operations....more
On June 15, 2020, Chief Judge DiFiore announced that the five upstate regions—Finger Lakes, Central New York, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and North Country—that began Phase III reopening last Friday, June 12, will expand...more
Legacy of the George Floyd Protests Start to Ripple Into the Workplace. As the George Floyd protests sweep the nation, a sizable amount of reformative legislation is being introduced into state legislatures. While the...more
In Florida, jury trials have been suspended since March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While non-jury trials, may go forward, the courts have been careful in how they resume jury trials. Although constitutional...more