Federal judges from the southern district of Texas set the notice discontinuing jury trials to the tune of Hamilton’s, “I’ll be back.” Nice to see something fun and legal these days.
Tag: covid-19
The Columbia Law School Scholarship Repository has added this title. Access (for free) is provided here. It is described on the site as follows:
The COVID-19 crisis has ended and upended lives around the globe. In addition to killing over 160,000 people, more than 35,000 in the United States alone, its secondary effects have been as devastating. These secondary effects pose fundamental challenges to the rules that govern our social, political, and economic lives. These rules are the domain of lawyers. Law in the Time of COVID-19 is the product of a joint effort by members of the faculty of Columbia Law School and several law professors from other schools.
This volume offers guidance for thinking about some the most pressing legal issues the pandemic has raised, especially (though not exclusively) for law in the United States: from the rights of prison inmates who live under conditions that make them exceptionally vulnerable to the highly contagious virus to the options for contracting parties who now face circumstances that make it impossible for them to live up to their past commitments. The book does not give legal advice. Instead, it identifies critical legal issues that affect many peoples’ lives, offers fresh perspectives for thinking about those issues, and provides guidance to legislatures and policy makers about the legal challenges ahead.
Maryland Legal Aid has added a number of videos in response to the effects of COVID on certain areas of law on YouTube. Right now you can find a video on the following topics:
- COVID Divorce
- COVID Evictions
- COVID FosterCare
- COVID Unemployment
- Check out the COVID Playlist as they add more.
More articles on COVID resources can be found on our Coronavirus/COVID19 Resources page.
Categories
NCLC COVID-19 Update
The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) has updated the article, Major Consumer Protections Announced in Response to COVID-19. This article covers many topics of concern to consumers as related to COVID-19:
- The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the ‘‘CARES Act,’’ Pub. L. No. 116-136
- Federal Foreclosure and Eviction Suspensions; Mortgage Loan Forbearance
- Banking Agency Guidance on Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modifications
- State Limitations on Foreclosures and Evictions
- Federal Changes re Appraisals for Mortgage Loans
- Student Loans, Other Debts Owed to the Government
- State Actions Regarding Utility Service and Telecommunications
- State Limits on Collection Lawsuits, Post-Judgment Remedies, Debt Collection, Repossessions (Private Creditors)
- Price Gouging
- Collection of Civil and Criminal Debt Owed to the State
- Banking and Bank-Extended Consumer Credit
- Bankruptcy Changes
- Fair Credit Reporting
- Stopping Automatic Payments from Bank Account
- Insurance Premiums
- Health Insurance Coverage
- CARES Act Employee Protections
- Advice and Assistance for Consumers
This article also includes links to the first chapters of all of the NCLC publications. Titles include Home Foreclosures, Fair Debt Collection, Mortgage Lending and many more. These titles are a part of the law library’s collection with print and online access. Check out the library’s online catalog by searching “NCLC” for a listing of library holdings. Call the law library if you need information from any of the NCLC titles.
The Access to Justice Commission has added a number of legal information one-pagers to their COVID-19 Resource Page. Topics include
- Find free remote legal help
- Understand changes in court procedure
- COVID – Landlord/ Tenant & Evictions
- COVID – Utilities & Other Essential Services
- COVID – Unemployment
- COVID – Immigration
- COVID – Domestic Violence
- COVID – Emergency Open Enrollment for Health Insurance and Medical Assistance
- COVID – Medicaid Renewal Deadlines Extended
- COVID – Stimulus Checks to Individuals
- COVID – Unemployment Insurance
- COVID – SNAP/TCA/TDAP Benefits
The Self Litigation Litigation Network (SRLN) has been hosting problem solving calls for who provide service to the unrepresented or the SRL. One concern is the availability of certain forms such as power of attorney, health care directives and standby guardianship for children. In Maryland these forms can be found online:
- Life Planning and Power of Attorney
- Forms and information about power of attorney and health directives can be found here.
- Standby guardianship forms can be found at mdcourts.gov here and the People’s Law Library article is here.
Maryland Legal Service providers are continuing to provide services and intake remotely:
Updated 4/28/2020
The Maryland People’s Law Library has added a link to a special page for a COVID-19 Update.
Resources there include:
- Maryland Courts: Information for the Public
- Legal Resources: Maryland Access to Justice Commission Resource Page
- Financial Resources: People’s Law Library Economic Relief Resources
And a link to find out accessibility of Maryland Court Law Libraries.
The Maryland People’s Law Library is always a great source for information on Maryland law written for the non-lawyer.
The National Consumer Law Center has published an article, Major Consumer Protections Announced in Response to COVID-19, that covers the following topics:
- Federal Suspension of Foreclosures
- Federal Banking Agency Guidance on Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modifications
- State Actions Limiting Foreclosures and Evictions
- Department of Education Action on Student Loans
- State Actions Regarding Utility Service and Telecommunications
- Price Gouging
- Collection of Civil and Criminal Debt Owed to the State, Other Debts
- Bank-Extended Consumer Credit
- Bankruptcy Changes
- Closures and Restrictions on Court Hearings and Non-Essential Businesses
NCLC books are available in the law library in print and online. If you need information on any of these consumer topics, please call (410-222-1387) or email the library (AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov)
The State of Maryland has created a page with information just for businesses. It provides links to Governor Hogan’s Executive orders, information on business relief measures, as well as interpretations of what is an essential business and contact information for questions.
Other topics on the page include:
- Business Closures & Restrictions During COVID-19
- Public Health Emergency Protection Act
- Resources for Business
- Financial Assistance & Taxes
- Employer & Worker Assistance
- Licensing & Permitting
- Educational Information
- Enforcement
There is also link for subscribing for updates.
The Maryland Access to Justice Commission is coordinating information among Maryland Legal Service providers and the courts. Their resource page states:
As a Marylander who may be facing a civil legal issue during this unprecedented time, you may have many questions about the status of your case because the courts have closed to the public or you may be confused about your rights. The Maryland Access to Justice Commission, in partnership with the Maryland State Bar Association, has put together this COVID-19 Resource Page, pulling resources from a multitude of sources to make it easier for you to navigate the civil justice system during this time of emergency. On this A2JC Resource Page, you will not only find links to different orders, but an explanation of what that could mean to you in non-legal language that you can understand. As the federal and state governments continue to take action on the behalf of U.S. and Maryland residents, we will continue to add helpful resources that will help you understand your rights under new COVID-related laws and post timely updates on court procedures impacted by COVID.
The Maryland Bar Association has posted the answers to questions asked of the Judiciary here.
COURTS
Maryland Courts are providing updates on the website mdcourts.gov
The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County has updates on its homepage at circuitcourt.org
U.S. Federal Courts have information here and the U.S. Supreme Court has postponed March oral arguments and posted information on building closures and filing deadlines on its homepage.
National Center for State Courts is providing updates on the status of state courts that include data visualizations.
GOVERNMENT
The State of Maryland is providing updated information here.
Anne Arundel County Government is providing COVID-19: Information, Resources, and Cancellations
City of Annapolis links include
- Alert Center
- AA County Department of Health
- AA County COVID-19 Resources List
- Office of Emergency Management Updates
- Subscribe to Coronavirus Updates
- COVID-19 Business Resources
- COVID-19 Workforce Assistance
- Mayor Buckley on COVID-19
- Carryout and Delivery Services
National Conference of State Legislatures resources include:
