Supreme Court Suspends Arguments Amid Coronavirus Fears

Six justices considered 'at risk' given age

The Supreme Court postponed its March argument session on Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Among the cases scheduled for the upcoming session are three disputes over subpoenas for President Donald Trump's financial records. The sitting was scheduled to run from March 23 to April 1. "In keeping with public health precautions recommended in response to COVID-19, the Supreme Court is postponing the oral arguments currently scheduled for the March session," Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement. "The Court will examine the options for rescheduling those cases in due course in light of the developing circumstances." "The Court is expanding remote working capabilities to reduce the number of employees in the building, consistent with public health guidance," the statement adds.

Despite Monday's extraordinary announcement, much of the Court's business will continue as normal. The justices will meet in a private conference to discuss petitions and other internal business on Friday. Some justices may participate remotely, according to Monday's statement. The Court will also release orders in pending cases on March 23. The justices can also continue reviewing cases and preparing opinions, Monday's postponement notwithstanding. Filing deadlines will remain in place for lawyers with cases before the Court. However, it's not clear if the Court will announce decisions in the coming weeks. The justices have handed down just 12 opinions since the current term began in October.

Six of the nine justices are considered at risk of death or serious complications should they contract the virus. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are in their 80s, while Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor are over 65.

The Court has not yet announced when it will hear arguments in the March cases. Other matters scheduled for the March sitting involve two Catholic elementary schools and the scope of an exemption to employment discrimination claims, as well as an $8 billion copyright dispute between Google and Oracle Corp. A final argument session, from April 20 to April 29, was not disturbed by Monday's announcement. The Supreme Court building closed to the public on Thursday. The Supreme Court has not canceled a sitting due to a public health crisis in over a century. The last time the justices delayed scheduled arguments was in October 1918, as the Spanish flu ravaged the United States. Outbreaks of yellow fever prompted early recesses twice in the 1790s.

https://freebeacon.com/courts/supreme-court-suspends-arguments-amid-coronavirus-fears/

El Salvador suspends flights, accuses Mexico of letting coronavirus patients board plane

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - President Nayib Bukele suspended passenger flights to El Salvador on Monday after accusing Mexico of allowing a dozen people with coronavirus to board a flight to San Salvador, an assertion quickly questioned by Mexico’s government. Bukele did not provide evidence for the claim, which he made on Twitter. He described Mexican authorities as “irresponsible.” “No passenger plane can land on Salvadoran soil,” Bukele said. “Planes en route should change their flight plans.”

Mexico’s deputy foreign minister for Latin America, Maximiliano Reyes, responded to the tweets by asking that Bukele reveal the source of his information and describing Mexico as a pioneer in handling epidemics. Bukele said the people with coronavirus were set to fly on an Avianca flight leaving Mexico City at 1600 local time on Monday. Avianca later said it had canceled the flight and that the passengers had not boarded, and were being informed of the cancellation. Bukele said the government was working on a new set of protocols to allow flights to resume through San Salvador airport, which is a connection point for flights to other Central American countries.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-el-salvador/el-salvador-suspends-flights-accuses-mexico-of-letting-coronavirus-patients-board-plane-idUSKBN2133V6?il=0

PG&E wins approval of $23 billion bankruptcy financing package - Bloomberg News

(Reuters) - Power producer PG&E Corp won bankruptcy court approval to use up to $23 billion in financing after California Governor Gavin Newsom dropped his opposition, Bloomberg News reported on Monday. According to the report, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali said he will approve a financing motion for $11 billion in debt commitments and $9 billion in new equity that will support PG&E’s turnaround plan. The company can also raise an additional $3 billion through new shares under the plan, the report said. PG&E last month said it plans to raise up to $25.68 billion by selling securities, as it tries to wriggle its way out of the bankruptcy process and bounce back from the negative publicity after its equipment in California was blamed for the deadly wildfires.

The company, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in January last year, faced opposition from the governor for its restructuring plan. Last month, PG&E submitted an updated reorganization plan including a new board of directors and new roles aimed at addressing concerns raised by Newsom. The court approval clears an obstacle for PG&E to work its way out of the bankruptcy process, the report said. The San Francisco, California-based company needs to exit bankruptcy by June 30 to participate in a state-backed fund that would help power utilities cushion the hit from wildfires. PG&E did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pg-e-us-bankruptcy/pge-wins-approval-of-23-billion-bankruptcy-financing-package-bloomberg-news-idUSKBN2133VQ?il=0