THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA
In the matter of
TERMINATION OF THE CARES ACT MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL
AUTHORIZATION ORDER 23-04
This Miscellaneous General Order supersedes all prior Miscellaneous General
Orders related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The terms of this order are effective beginning
May 10, 2023, in criminal proceedings and May 24, 2023, in civil and bankruptcy
proceedings.
1. Criminal Proceedings. The authority to use video and teleconferencing technologies in
certain criminal proceedings under § 15002(b) of the CARES Act expires on Wednesday,
May 10, 2023. Thereafter, courts are required to return to pre-pandemic practices and may
use video or teleconferencing technologies in criminal proceedings only pursuant to the
provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or any relevant statutes that applied
before the CARES Act. Therefore, the provisions in the CARES Act related to criminal
proceedings are no longer in force and effect effective May 10, 2023. Likewise, the
procedures established by Miscellaneous General Orders related to the COVID-19
pandemic, including MGO 21-25 and MGO 23-02, are superseded and no longer in force
and effect in all criminal proceedings, effective May 10, 2023.
2. Civil and Bankruptcy Proceedings. Judicial Conference policy generally prohibits the
broadcasting of proceedings in federal trial courts. However, in March 2020, the Judicial
Conference approved a temporary exception that has allowed judges to authorize the use
of teleconference technology to provide the public and the medio audio access to court
proceedings. This exception was based on a finding that COVID-19 created emergency
conditions that materially affected the functioning of the federal courts. The Judicial
Conference has determined that, effective May 24, 2023, those emergency conditions with
respect to COVID-19 no longer materially affect the functioning of the federal courts,
either generally or with regard to a particular district. However, there is a 120-day grace
period that permits remote audio public access to civil and bankruptcy proceedings, which
will continue through September 21, 2023. During this time, judges in the District of
Alaska shall have discretion to allow remote audio public access to civil and bankruptcy
proceedings. This Miscellaneous General Order does not prohibit or otherwise supercede
any prior authority to conduct civil and bankruptcy court proceedings with counsel and
litigants through electronic means, including audio, video, and/or the internet.
DATED this 9th day of May, 2023.
/s/ Sharon L. Gleason
Hon. Sharon L. Gleason
Chief United States District Judge
District of Alaska
Distribution:
District & Magistrate Judges U.S. Attorney Bankruptcy Judge
Clerk of Court Federal Public Defender Clerk of Court Bankruptcy
Court Rules Attorney U.S. Marshal Alaska Bar Assn
U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services Court Librarian Active Attys via ECF
