UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
1020 JUN 11 P 12: 0 2
In re: COURT OPERATIONS DURING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 VIRUS
GENERAL ORDER
No. 2020-08
REQUIREMENT OF FACE COVERING IN THE
HUGO BLACK UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE AND
THE ROBERT S. VANCE FEDERAL BUILDING
AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
This General Order is being issued in response to the ongoing national
emergency in response to the novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health
authorities have advised public and private agencies to continue to take
necessary and appropriate precautions to reduce the possibility of exposure to
COVID-19 and slow the spread of the disease, including the recommendation of
wearing face coverings or masks (hereinafter "masks") in public settings where
social distancing cannot be maintained.
THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
That all persons over the age of eight years, including but not limited to:
Court employees; visitors and parties to cases; jurors; witnesses; attorneys and
their support staff including United States Attorneys, members of the Federal
Defender's Office and members of the Criminal Justice Act Panel of Attorneys;
United States Probation Officers; Court Security Officers; United States Marshals;
all members of law enforcement, Bankruptcy Administration personnel, General
Services Administration personnel including Goodwill employees; maintenance
and repair personnel and contractors, cleaning services, vendors, and mail
delivery service persons
1. Shall, effective immediately, wear a mask or face covering while in
public or common spaces inside the Hugo Black United States Courthouse and the
Robert S. Vance Federal Building and United States Courthouse ("Courthouses"),
unless having received specific exception by a Court official, or unless being
instructed to remove a mask by an Officer with the United States Marshals
Service, the Federal Protective Service, or Court Security.
2. The public or common areas of the Courthouses shall include the
entrance areas, lobbies, balconies, public corridors, elevators, restrooms,
stairwells, garages, courtrooms and any other areas of the Courthouses where the
public generally has access.
3. The mask or face covering must completely cover the wearer's nose
and mouth.
4. The presiding judge in any court proceeding may authorize the
removal of a mask during the proceeding.
5. Courthouse employees who are alone in a private office or workspace
which permits at least six feet of physical distance from other persons, may
remove their masks while in their private workspaces.
6. The United States Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service,
and Court Security Officers may deny entry to the courthouse to persons not
wearing a mask. Individuals who remove their masks in violation of this Order
after gaining access to the Courthouses may be required to exit the building.
7. This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until
further Order of the Court.
8. The Clerk of Court in coordination with the US Marshal shall cause
appropriate signage to be posted at the entry of the Courthouses to inform all
those entering of the requirement.
IT IS SO ORDERED on the 16th day of June, 2020.
L. Scott Coogle
Chief U.S. Dist Judge
Northern District of Alabama
