Hi and welcome back to Bench Report! Oh, to be in the room while they were discussing whether to suspend Rudy Giuliani's law license. Send all of your news, tips and feedback to [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @jacq_thomsen.

The E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse, home of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Photo by Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM.

Federal Appeals Courts Are Making a Comeback

With more people getting vaccinated, appeals courts are starting to reopen their doors—to a select few. We're seeing more of the circuit courts say they'll hold in-person oral arguments in the coming months, but all of those announcements come with caveats, some based on vaccination status. Here's what we know about each appeals court so far.

First Circuit: The court is holding its July session remotely, but has not yet announced its plans for its fall sitting. Circuit executive Susan Goldberg said she expects that decision to be made next week.

Second Circuit: Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston announced this week that the court will hold in-person arguments when it starts its next term on August 16, with arguing attorneys and pro se litigants expected to appear in person. No restrictions have been announced yet, but the court said that the courtroom "will be open to the public subject to conditions" set before the start of the term. The court will keep livestreaming its arguments.