WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Friday it will continue to hear arguments by telephone through at least December because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The court’s announcement extending telephone arguments two months means that a big challenge to the Obama-era healthcare law being heard in November will be heard by phone.
“The Court will continue to closely monitor public health guidance in determining plans for the January argument session,” the court said in a statement.
The high court returned from its summer break this week and heard six arguments by phone. It plans to hear another four arguments by phone next week. The court has a total of 18 arguments scheduled for November and December.
The justices last met in person to hear arguments in February, but they closed the courthouse to the public in March because of the public health crisis and postponed arguments in March and April.
The court first held arguments by telephone in May and made the audio available live, also a first for the tradition-bound court.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.