IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
COURT OPERATIONS DURING DISTRICT COURT GENERAL ORDER
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 2022-4
This order supersedes General Order 2022-3.
WHEREAS, the Court continues to evaluate its response to the COVID-19 pandemic while
effectively administering justice;
WHEREAS, key indicators from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment,
including positivity rates, the number of hospitalizations, and cumulative incidences of COVID-19 per
100,000 people, have recently decreased substantially;
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”) has published
revised guidance establishing COVID-19 “Community Levels” that consider three metrics – new
COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 people in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient
beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past
seven days – to determine a county’s COVID-19 risk level. In low and medium Community Level
counties, the CDC’s guidance does not require wearing masks indoors in public. However, in
medium Community Level counties, individuals who are high risk for severe illness are advised to
consult with a health care provider about the need to wear a mask. In high Community Level
counties, the CDC’s guidance requires wearing a mask indoors in public;
WHEREAS, according to the CDC’s metrics, Denver County, El Paso County, where the
Colorado Springs courthouse and U.S. Probation Office are located, Mesa County, where the Grand
Junction courthouse and U.S. Probation Office are located, and La Plata County, where the
Durango courthouse and U.S. Probation Office are located, are low and medium Community Level
counties. Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that the mask wearing requirements for entrants to any courthouse or U.S.
Probation Office in the District of Colorado are discontinued. Entrants include all court employees,
interns, and non-employees, including attorneys and their support personnel, witnesses, case agents,
spectators or family members for trials or hearings, members of the press, persons being supervised
by the U.S. Probation Office, litigants, contractors, vendors, and delivery persons. However, judicial
officers, at their discretion, may institute more protective rules regarding mask wearing in their
courtrooms. Therefore, all entrants to any courthouse or U.S. Probation Office in the District of
Colorado are advised to have a mask on their person. Moreover, this General Order does not
supersede the requirements of the revised Jury Protocols, which require mask wearing for jurors in
the Jury Assembly Room. Any entrant may choose to wear a mask at any time. The U.S. Marshals
and court security officers are authorized to enforce these requirements. It is further
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ORDERED that the following persons shall not enter any courthouse or U.S. Probation Office
of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado:
1. Persons who have, in the past 10 days, been diagnosed with or are currently
experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough, shortness of
breath, or loss of sense of taste or smell;
2. Unvaccinated persons who have had close contact in the last 10 days with any
person with COVID-19; and
3. Persons who have been asked to self-quarantine by any doctor, hospital, or health
agency.
What to do if you are denied access to a District of Colorado courthouse or courtroom:
1. If you are represented by an attorney, please contact your attorney;
2. If you are an attorney and you are scheduled to appear in court before a judge,
please contact the chambers of the presiding judge;
3. If you are scheduled to meet with a Pretrial Services Officer or a Probation
Officer, please contact the U.S. Probation Office at (303) 844-5424;
4. If you are a juror or prospective juror, please contact the Jury Department at
(303) 844-3924; and
5. For other District Court matters, please contact the Clerk’s Office of the U.S.
District Court at (303) 844-3433. It is further
ORDERED that initial appearances on indictments, complaints, and supervised release
petitions, as well as detention hearings and preliminary hearings, will take place in person unless
pandemic-related lockdowns or similar circumstances prevent a defendant from being able to appear
in person. If a defendant requests to appear remotely for one of the above-mentioned hearings under
the CARES Act, the assigned judicial officer may, at his or her discretion, allow that defendant to
appear remotely. Family members of defendants, victims (as provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3771), media,
and members of the public may attend hearings in person. Such persons may also attend video
teleconference hearings through telephonic access. Dial-in information will be posted on the case
docket and/or the presiding judicial officer’s calendar. All persons participating in a court proceeding
remotely by telephone are prohibited, under penalty of contempt, from recording or broadcasting the
proceeding in any manner. All other hearings will take place in person or remotely at the discretion
of the judicial officer as allowed, in the case of criminal hearings, by the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure and/or the CARES Act. It is further
ORDERED that in-person Central Violations Bureau calendars may continue in person. It is
further
ORDERED that naturalization ceremonies may proceed in person subject to availability of
space. It is further
ORDERED that public and bar-related functions may be scheduled in person subject to
availability of space.
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Dated at Denver, Colorado this 11th day of April, 2022.
BY THE COURT
PHILIP A. BRIMMER
Chief United States District Judge
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