UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ·
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
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In re: COURT OPERATIONS DURING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 VIRUS
GENERAL ORDER
No. 2020-04
The Court continues to monitor the public health emergency resulting
from the COVID-19 virus. To date, more than eight hundred persons within
this district have tested positive for the virus. In line with the guidance
provided by the President of United States and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the Court entered a General Order on March 17,
2020, continuing proceedings, staying proceedings, and adopting rules
designed to protect public health by reducing the number of persons who
congregate within the district courthouses. With the public health
emergency continuing, it is necessary for this Court to extend the previously
entered order.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. That all provisions of the General Order entered on March 17, 2020,
unless otherwise modified herein, are continued in effect pending
further court order.
2. Discovery Deadlines and Depositions in Civil Cases: All currently
unexpired deadlines and briefing schedules in civil cases are hereby
stayed through April 30, 2020, as this Court understands that the
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency may impact attorneys' abilities to
comply with certain deadlines, such as the production of documents,
the filing of briefs, and depositions. Regardless, the district and
magistrate judges are free to make exceptions to this stay in
extraordinary circumstances. Further, all attorneys and parties are
encouraged to continue discovery and briefing when app ·opriate (for
example, when such can be conducted by telework).
3. Effect on Statutory and/ or Rules-based Requirements: Unless
otherwise noted above or in the General Order entered on March 17,
2020, this Order does not toll or otherwise affect the applicability of
any statutory or rules-based requirements or deadlines, including but
not limited to, statutes of limitation and deadlines for filing appeals.
4. Exigent Circumstances: The Court retains the ability to grant
exceptions to this order upon the showing of exigent circumstances.
Any requested exception must be electronically filed as a motion in
the case in which the exception is requested.
5. Duration: Due to the uncertain length of the Public Health. Emergency,
this General Order will remain in effect until revoked by f•Jrther order
of the Court.
6. Counsel are reminded of the provision above where all attorneys and
parties are encouraged to continue discovery and briefing when
appropriate (for example, when such can be conducted by telework)
and that they may file for exceptions to this order upon the showing
of exigent circumstances.
IT IS SO ORDERED on the 13th day of April, 2020.
L. Scott C gler
Chief U.S. District Judge
Northern District of Alabama
