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
State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Public Resources Page — Texasbar.com/COVIDHelp
Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Well-being Resources page — Texasbar.com/remote-well-being
Federal Judge Lynn on jury trial: ‘We needed to see if it could be done and how it could be done’ — For two days this week, a dozen North Texas jurors listened to oral arguments, heard witness testimony and reviewed physical evidence. (Subscription required) — The Texas Lawbook
Commentary: Lawyers, addiction and COVID-19: ‘Changing the landscape for everyone’ — Lawyers need to know that these pressures can exacerbate an alarming situation that they are already facing. — ABA Journal
Analysis: Virus has workers’ lawyers shifting from litigation to advice — Brian East, an attorney with Disability Rights Texas, described an effort by legal services groups in the Lone Star State to divvy up the task of analyzing the federal pandemic relief measures and the agency guidance that followed. (Subscription required) — Law360
Federal appeals court extends block on voting-by-mail expansion in Texas — The appellate panel extended a temporary order it issued earlier halting a federal judge’s order expanding voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. — The Texas Tribune
Rights groups say age-based laws on absentee voting are unconstitutional — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to prompt concerns about the safety of in-person voting, a coalition of voting rights groups argue that Texas and others are violating the U.S. Constitution by only letting older citizens vote by mail. — Courthouse News Service
2 more law firms announce pay cuts; are they a stopgap measure before layoffs? — Two more law firms announced pay cuts in the past week, marking a third slow week of bad news. — ABA Journal
When small businesses can’t access PPP, local governments struggle to close the gap — Thousands of small businesses, especially those owned by people of color, have been left behind by the stipulations of the Paycheck Protection Program. In Texas, local governments are lending millions of dollars, and it’s not enough. — The Texas Tribune
Wells Fargo faces shareholder lawsuit over coronavirus loan practices — Wells Fargo was accused of concealing how it prioritized larger and more lucrative borrowers when handling PPP loan applications from small businesses. — Reuters
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