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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

SLOW-GOING - A phased reopening plan for the U.S. District Court in New York's Southern District will feature significant physical changes—including reconfiguring large courtrooms—to implement social-distancing measures. As of now, jury trials are not imminent. The plan for the Manhattan courthouse calls for guards posted at the doors to take temperatures. Meanwhile, Judge Richard Seeborg in California's Northern District has issued a general order saying that "at this juncture, no assurances can be given as to when civil trials can be resumed."

NO MOVES – Law firm leasing activity has ground to a near halt in New York, as law firms wait out relocation decisions and redesign their current spaces to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. With regard to large law firm lease deals over 30,000 square feet, five leases were signed in the first four months of 2019, compared with only one signed, a sublease, in 2020, Christine Simmons reports.

PRECEDENT  – The DOJ's move to drop the case against Michael Flynn is putting a fresh spotlight on a 1977 U.S. Supreme Court case, Rinaldi, that addressed the judiciary rule pertaining to the  dismissal of criminal charges. As Mike Scarcella and C. Ryan Barber report, the court rule in question gives a judge some discretionary role in those rare circumstances in which prosecutors ask a court to dismiss a case. But how much of a role? U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has set oral arguments for the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case for July 16.

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EDITOR'S PICKS

Stinson Names First-Ever Female Managing Partner to Lead Its Next Strategic Moves

Michigan Is the Latest to Move July Bar Exam Online

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

CHOICES - The workforce in the London office of litigation boutique Hausfeld will be able to continue remote working until the end of 2020. Hannah Roberts reports that the option is in effect even if the office is reopened before then. The firm enacted the measure after it surveyed its people about how they felt about a potential office return.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"While I would hope there are more family dinners, I would expect to go back to seeing everyone when they come home for Sunday football."

— Brad Butwin, chairman of O'Melveny, who's had 63 dinners in a row with his family as they shelter in place.

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