We post news and comment on federal criminal justice issues, focused primarily on trial and post-conviction matters, legislative initiatives, and sentencing issues.

YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE SHUT OUT OF THE LAW LIBRARY

One victim of the pandemic, if “victim” is the right word, would be inmate legal filings, hobbled since inmate access to the law libraries at institutions across the country has been curtailed along with recreational and educational activities. A report last week from Law360 found that the coronavirus has affected the courts in another way as well.

COVID-19 has seriously reduced the amount of work coming out of federal courts. In March, the number of written opinions was down 11% compared to the average number filed in March of the four previous years. In April, the decline was 15%, and in May, 24%. June written opinions were down 20%.

The average number of written opinions was down 18% during these four months compared to the average number of written opinions filed in those same four months in the four previous years.

Substantial variance showed between districts, too. The number of written opinions increased 79% in the Western District Texas and 34% in the Southern District of Florida. Meanwhile, the number of written opinions fell 41% in the Northern District of California and 25% in the Northern District of Florida for the same time period.

Law360.com, How Pandemic Is Affecting The Pace Of Judicial Opinions (July 30)

– Thomas L. Root