U.S. Fifth Circuit authorizes remote oral argument

The U.S. Fifth Circuit has issued an order authorizing panels to hold oral arguments by video or audio conference. See Order, Gen. Docket No. 2020-5 (Apr. 20, 2020). This authorization applies to both regularly scheduled oral-argument panels and special hearings. According to ¶ 2 of the order, “The court will, when feasible, provide real-time public access to the audio-only portion of oral arguments that are conducted using video-conferencing technology or by means of audioconferencing.” Consistent with its no-photos rule, the order prohibits “the recording or transmission of visual images of oral argument or creating a photographic image from video of oral argument ....” To download a copy of this order, follow this link.

In announcing this order, the court’s web site says, “The Clerk’s Office will advise counsel in the pending cases of how their case will be handled.  The court calendars will be updated accordingly and will continue to be revised as necessary.”

This order continues the court’s prior orders responding to the COVID-19 emergency. For your convenience, links to those orders are below.

• Gen. Docket No. 2020-3 (Mar. 18, 2020), suspending requirements for paper copies of filings.
• Gen. Docket No. 2020-4 (Mar. 25, 2020), suspending mail operations of the Clerk’s Office.