Supreme Court to hear arguments by telephone through January due to coronavirus

The Supreme Court announced Wednesday it would continue to hear arguments via phone calls through at least January because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision will extend remote telephone arguments by a month, with the possibility that in-person hearings could resume in February, according to an official statement.

“The Court will continue to closely monitor public health guidance in determining plans for the February argument session,” the court said in a statement.

Justices stopped meeting in person to hear arguments in February, later closing the courthouse to the public in March due to the public health crisis caused by the pandemic. The decision also led to postponing arguments in March and April.

The court resumed hearing arguments by telephone in May and made the audio available live, marking a first for the Supreme Court to implement such policy.

Following a break in the summer, the Supreme Court resumed hearing arguments via the phone and made the audio available live in October.