Federal Circuit to Resume In-Person Arguments Aug. 30

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit returns to in-person arguments Aug. 30 with new COVID-19 health and safety protocols, said the court Tuesday. Fully vaccinated individuals "may forgo wearing masks and physical distancing," but people who are not fully vaccinated "must continue to wear masks and observe physical distancing," it said. The protocols assume all oral arguments after Sept. 1 will be in person, but lawyers may file motions for leave to appear remotely if they declare under penalty of perjury that their physical presence would expose them or their households to an "unacceptable risk of developing serious health complications from COVID-19," it said. The court plans two test runs of the new protocols in July.