There’s been an important ruling in the case against Hungarian state museums, according to the New York Times, over the restitution claims of the heirs of Baron Mor Lipot Herzog for 40 artworks including works by El Greco, Cranach, Zubarán and van Dyck:

Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle ruled late Thursday against Hungary’s argument that its state-owned museums and university are immune from jurisdiction of the United States courts under the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. She did dismiss the heirs’ claims on 11 works, citing a Hungarian court’s ruling that the government could keep them.

The ruling will now require Hungary to open government and museum records, forcing its Holocaust-era actions and its inventory of looted artworks to be scrutinized.

Judge Allows Suit Against Hungary Over Artworks to Proceed (Arts Beat/New York Times)