Supreme Court Bows to Crisis With Arguments Via Telephone

The U.S. Supreme Court for the first time will hear arguments by telephone and allow live audio broadcasts, bowing to the coronavirus outbreak by announcing a special May session including rescheduled clashes over subpoenas for President Donald Trump’s financial records.

It’s an extraordinary step for the tradition-bound court, whose arguments are normally steeped in ritual and devoid of all but the most basic technology. But with the pandemic making arguments in the courtroom impractical, the justices said Monday they would adopt procedures that until now have been anathema to them.

The court said the justices and lawyers will all ...