Supreme Court Votes For the Coronavirus Eviction Moratorium to Remain in Place

Yesterday, the Supreme Court voted for the Coronavirus eviction moratorium to remain in place. The justices denied the request to block a U.S. CDC order that prohibits landlords nationwide from evicting certain tenants who fail to pay rent amid the pandemic. The moratorium will remain in place until July 31st. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined 3 other justices to keep the moratorium in place while Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett said they would have granted the request to lift it.

The current moratorium was set to expire today but last week CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced the ‘final’ extension until July 31st. Walensky said the pandemic has presented a “historic threat to the nation’s public health” and that “keeping people in their homes and out of crowded or congregate settings — like homeless shelters — by preventing evictions is a key step in helping to stop the spread of Covid-19.” A group of landlords, real estate companies and real estate trade associations argued that the moratorium has resulted in “over $13 billion in unpaid rent per month.”