Rep. Johnson Chairs Hearing on Federal Courts & COVID

Chairman Johnson of the Courts Subcommittee Explores How the Federal Courts Have Operated During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) chaired his Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet's hearing on the Federal Courts During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future.

The hearing examined how the federal courts have responded to the historic disruption caused by the coronavirus and the steps they are taking to make sure that access to justice continues to operate as safely and smoothly as possible under these circumstances.

The Subcommittee also considered the novel ways that courts have used technology to allow some court proceedings to continue in virtual form, and how courts are using technology to ensure that the public's right of access to court proceedings is respected — such as the Supreme Court's first-ever livestreaming of oral arguments.

Chairman Johnson and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle explored what other procedures, practices, and technological efforts the federal courts should employ throughout the pandemic, during normal operations, and in future emergencies.

Read Chairman Johnson's opening statement HERE | To watch the entire hearing, click HERE.

Witnesses included:

• The Honorable Bridget M. McCormack, Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court

• The Honorable Jeremy Fogel, Executive Director, Berkeley Judicial Institute, University of California, Berkeley School of Law

• Ms. Melissa Wasser, Policy Analyst, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

• Judge David G. Campbell, Senior Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and Chair of the Judicial Conference's Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure

###