Supreme Court Allows Alabama Residents to Sue Over COVID-19 Unemployment Claim Delays on February 21, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 21, 2025, that unemployed residents in Alabama can pursue a lawsuit against the state over delays in processing their unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Court determined that a law requiring litigants to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit does not apply in this case, allowing the claimants to argue that the delays violated their federal civil rights. This decision comes as many individuals were left waiting for months for their unemployment benefits amid the pandemic.