Abandoned Masks, Vaccines Required: Court Reopenings Vary (1)

Federal courts are altering and, in some cases, loosening pandemic-era restrictions on operations as vaccinations increase and infections decline, ushering in a new wave of procedures that vary by court.

All District of Rhode Island staff must be vaccinated before returning to work. And at least 12 courts are allowing fully vaccinated individuals to go without masks in their courthouses, following the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Those courts include the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Northern District of New York.

Covid-19 caused courts nationwide to alter operations, shifting to ...