Supreme Court Won’t Block Order to Move Inmates Threatened by Virus

Supreme Court rejects Trump administration bid to halt order
Ohio prison has become Covid hot spot with at least nine dead

The U.S. Supreme Court stands in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Lawmakers continue negotiations over the next round of coronavirus stimulus legislation, with a Senate Democrat saying today that a handful of Republicans could be on board with a proposal to send $500 billion in funding to states.Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg

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By Greg Stohr

May 26, 2020 at 5:19 PM UTC

Updated on

May 26, 2020 at 6:24 PM UTC

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A divided U.S. Supreme Court left in force a judge’s order that could require federal prison officials to move hundreds of inmates out of an Ohio facility where at least nine people have died from the coronavirus.

The justices on Tuesday rejected a bid from President Donald Trump’s administration, which sought to block the order on grounds it would undermine the Bureau of Prisons’ systemic response to the pandemic and force transfers that would risk spreading the virus.