Topline
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has been diagnosed with Covid-19, despite having been fully vaccinated. The court announced Friday that the Court was not sure how the illness will affect the Court's preparations for its new term.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the State of the Union Address at the Capitol in...[+] Washington on February 5, 2019. ASSOCIATED PRS
The Key Facts
Kavanaugh was positive for Covid-19 on Thursday night, just before Justice Amy Coney Barrett's investiture ceremony Friday. He will not now be attending. According to the court, Kavanaugh has been fully immunized since January and shows no symptoms. Justice Amy Coney Barrett will be attending Friday's investiture ceremony. Kavanaugh's family has also been fully vaccinated, and they have tested negative for Covid-19. Forbes will keep this post updated with any new developments.
What to Watch
Kavanaugh's landmark case is just days before the Supreme Court begins hearing oral arguments for its new term. The hearings will begin on Monday with hearings in a groundwater case between Mississippi and Tennessee as well as a criminal sentencing matter. These hearings will be the first in person since the pandemic. The court has changed its procedures to allow for remote oral arguments. Friday's court decision did not make any comment on whether these hearings would still be held in person.
Important Background
In March, the Supreme Court announced that all seven justices had been vaccinated against Covid-19. Kavanaugh's positive test is just one of many such cases that have occurred among federally vaccinated officials since the rise in transmission of the highly transmissible delta virus. Since July, at least 12 vaccinated members in Congress have tested positive. Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, acknowledged that White House staff members also have been positive even though they have been inoculated. Although Covid-19 vaccines have been shown to be less effective against the delta variant of the virus, they are still highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
Tangent
The court will require all lawyers arguing before it to submit to a PCR test for Covid-19 on the morning of their court appearance. The attorneys who test positive will be asked to appear at the hearing remotely if they are negative. There is currently no requirement to get vaccinated for anyone appearing before Supreme Court.
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All Supreme Court justices were vaccinated against Covid. (CNBC).
Supreme Court will resume in-person hearings but the building is still closed to the public (Washington Post).
