Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community.
Important links
State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources Page — Texasbar.com/coronavirus
Check the Office of Court Administration’s website for court closures or delays reported to the OCA
Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Well-being Resources page — Texasbar.com/remote-well-being
Several states postpone attorney discipline hearings because of the coronavirus — The State Bar of Texas says all those impacted by disciplinary hearings being postponed through the end of April will be contacted directly. Hearings scheduled in May and beyond are currently scheduled to be held. — ABA Journal
Firms across Texas affected by stringent stay-home orders — More counties in Texas have issued shelter-in-place or stay-home orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus, prompting firms to temporarily close offices and have employees work remotely. (Subscription required) — Texas Lawyer
Covid-19 crisis calls for strong leadership: learn the essential skills you need to lead your firm through the chaos — Those of you in positions of leadership can steer your law firms successfully through this crisis even though you are communicating virtually. — Texas Bar Journal
Chief innovation officer talks firm’s changing culture amid COVID-19 and best tips for working remotely — Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Patrick DiDomenico, the chief innovation officer for Jackson Lewis, a large national labor and employment-focused law firm. — ABA Journal
OCA issues Zoom and YouTube support information for courts, judges — The Office of Court Administration is providing judges the ability to stream and host court proceedings via Zoom and YouTube. — Texas Bar Blog
Judges rush to learn video conferencing as shelter-in-place orders spread across Texas metros — As shelter-in-place orders take effect this week, judges are beginning to conduct video conferences and trying to overcome the challenges of the virtual hearings. (Subscription required) — Texas Lawyer
Judge raises constitutional concerns with COVID-19 limits on court proceedings — 19th State District Court Judge Ralph Strother said this week he is concerned about the constitutional rights of the accused. — Waco Tribune-Herald
Texas unemployment rate headed toward double digits, comptroller warns — Texas reported a record low unemployment rate of 3.5% in January. The historic high was 9.2% in 1986. — The Texas Tribune
Travis County grants automatic personal bonds in many felony cases during outbreak — Travis County is granting automatic personal bonds to offenders of certain nonviolent felony offenses as a way to control the county jail’s population during the coronavirus pandemic. — Austin-American Statesman
Why the prison population is so vulnerable to COVID-19 — The percentage of people in state prisons who are 55 and older more than tripled between 2000 and 2016. — The Marshall Project
Immigrant detention center employee tests positive for COVID-19 — Immigration lawyers worry the disease could be quickly transmitted throughout the detention facility. — Houston Public Media
Criminals profit from the pandemic — Texas prosecutors brought charges against someone who falsely claimed on social media to have tested positive for Covid-19. — The Associated Press
People with disabilities bear brunt of challenges posed by COVID-19 (audio) — More than 80% of the disabled community is unemployed, relying on a fixed income, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. — Texas Public Radio
On-campus interviews in January? Top law schools consider delays amid law firm pressure — Columbia Law School has decided to push back on-campus interviews for summer associates until January 2021 amid pressure from law firms, according to a published report. — ABA Journal
Florida governor sued over refusal to close all beaches — A Florida lawyer says Governor Ron DeSantis is endangering the entire country by not taking executive action ordering all of the state’s beaches to close amid the coronavirus pandemic. — Courthouse News Service
List: 100 things to do while stuck at home social distancing (video) — Ride roller coasters, check out museums, tour historic and mysterious locations … virtually, of course. — KVUE – Austin
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