Legal News

The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked Congress to grant the US Attorney General emergency powers to ask federal judges to pause court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic according to a POLITICO report Saturday. Federal judges already have the power to pause court proceedings in their individual courts during emergencies. However, the DOJ contends that this [...]

Lawmakers in Chile on Thursday agreed to postpone a nationwide referendum on a new constitution amid concerns about the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. President Sebastian Pinera signed a law last December scheduling a national referendum on a new constitution following months of protests. The vote was set for April 26, but the ministry of [...]

US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin issued a notice on Friday that tax day is deferred to July 15, following President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act. In an effort to reduce the economic impact of COVID-19, the current administration is seeking ways to mitigate the damage. The administration already introduced [...]

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide “stay at home” order on Thursday, amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. The order went into effect Thursday and will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Newsom announced his enforcement will be a “social contract” agreement where people self-regulate behavior. The order explains that residents should only leave their [...]

US President Donald Trump took official measures Friday to prevent further outbreak of COVID-19 by restricting the southern border of the US. Trump said that the US and Mexico have agreed to temporarily restrict nonessential travel across their shared border in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. These restrictions, which will begin on [...]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced at a press conference Friday morning that all non-essential workers throughout New York State are required to stay home in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This state-wide ban comes a day after California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, ordered a statewide shelter in place for all California [...]

The US Supreme Court on Thursday extended the deadline to file a petition for writ of certiorari in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The new rule allows petitioners to file within 150 days of the lower court’s decision, an increase from the 90-day requirement ordinarily used. The order submitted also clarifies that subsequent time extensions [...]

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Wednesday that they will halt enforcement efforts in the US, excluding attempts to deport foreign nationals who pose a public safety risk. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, ICE has suspended immigration enforcement in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. ICE said that they will [...]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday signed a bill passed by the state assembly the same day, providing paid sick leave and family leave benefits to New York citizens who are ill or quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic. The benefits of the new law apply both to those who are sick and those in [...]

US President Donald Trump signed into law the COVID-19 bipartisan relief package on Wednesday. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides sick leave and expanded safety net spending. Another key feature of the bill is providing free testing for COVID-19. The Act provides paid sick leave for any employees asked to self-quarantine, diagnosed with COVID-19, [...]