Afternoon Briefs: Kentucky travel ban overturned; Wisconsin justices consider stay-at-home extension
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Federal judge strikes down Kentucky travel ban
U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman ruled Monday that Kentucky’s restrictions on out-of-state travel are unconstitutional. The travel ban allowed travel outside the state only for limited reasons, such as a job, health care or groceries. Residents could also leave the state to provide care for the elderly and other categories of people. Ruling on another issue, Bertelsman upheld the state’s ban on mass gatherings. (Courthouse News Service, Bertelsman’s opinion)
Wisconsin justices consider extending stay-at-home order
The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard Zoom oral arguments Tuesday on the authority of health officials to extend the governor’s stay-at-home order for an additional four and a half weeks. GOP lawmakers contend that any public health directives have to go through statutory rule-making procedures. (Courthouse News Service, How Appealing)
Federal judiciary seeks extra COVID-19 funding, more judgeships
The federal judiciary is seeking legislative changes and supplemental funding to respond to needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The judiciary wants to address expected caseload increases with more judgeships. The courts are also seeking an additional $36.6 million in supplemental funding that will be used to upgrade technology for remote work, health screening at courthouse entrances, enhanced cleaning, and costs of probation and pretrial services for offenders released from prison. (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts press release, U.S. Judicial Conference letter to Congress, Law.com)
New York must have Democratic primary, judge says
U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York has ruled that New York cannot cancel its Democratic presidential primary because of COVID-19 concerns. Torres ordered the state to have the primary in June and to restore candidates to the ballot. Torres ruled in a suit filed by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. (The New York Times, Politico, the May 5 decision)
