UNITED TATE DI TRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF CO NECTlCUT
R DI
INRE: RALORD R
COURT OPERATIO UNDER THE EXIGE T
CIRC M TA AT -D BY OVrD-19
WHER A , th Pre id nt of th nited tates has declared a national emergency. and
the Governor of the tale of Connecticut has declared a public health mergency throughout the
tate·
ontrol and Pre ention ha advi ed peopl to
take pr caution in light oftlne OYJD-19 virus coronavirus) outbreak. and has noted that the
b st way to prev nt illn s i to avoid being exposed to the virus. through. among other means,
ocial di tancing;
D
WHEREA . the Di tTi l ourt continues to review its operation to identify measures
that will h Ip low th pread of the virus by minimizing contact between p rsons, while at th
same time pre erving its core mis ion of serving th public through the fair and impartial
administration of justice·
IT I HE BY ORDERED, effective immediately and through June 15, 2020, that:
1) All in-court (in-p r on) civil and criminaJ proceeding scheduled to commence on
or before Jw1e 15 2020, before any district or magistrate judg in any cow"thou e in the
Dist:ric1 of onnecticut shall be CONTJN D p nding forth r rd r of the Cour4 with
the exceptions and under th procedur n ted in paragraph 2 and., below;
2) During thi peri d the i trict Court will handle, in court or by video confi r nc ,
present:m nt of n w arre t . detention hearings, grand jury return . and civil matt r
requiring a prompt hearing und r F d. R. Ci . P. 65; in addition, each di t:rict or
magi trate judge may, in his or her di cretion, choo e to handle other matters in court (a
opposed to continuing the matter or handling it via ideo rt I conferenc ) whenever the
judge con id r it to be in the interests of ju tice to do so after giving due consideration
to th public health risk presented by in-cou1i appearance : each judge will notif the
partie through the CM/ECF syst m wheth r a particular proceeding as igned to that
judge and scheduled to occur on orb for June 15 2020, will take place a cheduled
and, if so. wh ther th proceeding will occur in court or through remote communication
(i.e., video or telephone conference)·
3) Because the grand jury perform an essential ervice that can afely be performed
in a courtroom without anyon breaching ocial di tan ing the U.. Attorn y's Office
may conduct grand jury proceedings in p rson beginning ay 18, 2020. Until further
order oftbe Collrt grand jury proceedings will take place only in the ew Haven
courthou . All grand jurors shall observe appropriate social distancing and shall wear
masks while pre en in the courthou e. Add itiona l precautions shall be undertaken as
nece ary to promot afety and encourage grand juror parti ipation.
4) During thi period. taff in the Clerk' Offic wi ll continue to telework to the
maximum extent po ible consi tent with erving the need of the public, exc pt tha
1imited taff will be present at the Clerk s office at each seat of court to proce filings
and an wer telephonic que tion from the public during normal bu iness horn· . Telework
policie applicabl to judge ' chamber will be decided by ach judge;
5) With regard to criminal trial , due to: the public h alth risk a sociated with
summoning groups of jurors who would b requir d to sit in clo proximity to each
other during jury selection, trial and deliberations; the Court's reduced ability to obtain
an adequate pectrum of jurors due to the public s perceptions o the risk a ociated with
jury service· and the effect of the above public health recommendations on the
availability of counsel and Court staff to be present in the courtroom; the time period of
the continuanc s implemented by paragraph I of thi up rseding General Order will b
excluded under the p ed Trial Act. The Cowi sp cifically finds tha the ends of
justice served by ord ring the continuance outweigh the be tinter sts of the public and
each defendant in a speedy trial pursuant to 18 U.S .C. § 3161(h)(7)(A ; and
6) The Bankruptcy Court wil l issue addi tional ord rs that relate specifical ly to tbe
Bankruptcy Court.
The District of Connecticut courthouses (including the faciliti sat 157 Church Str et
ew Haven) remain open for business. Cowt staff not physically pr sent at the courthouse ar
quipped to work remotely, and will work normal hours during each bu ines day. taff in the
lerk' Office are availabl by telephone. mail will be received and pap r fil ing can be made at
th ntrance to each courthouse. Electronic fi lings may still b made through the Ctv1/ECF
ystem. The public is encouraged to continue utilizing Court ervices while following all
applicable public health guidelin .
The following General Order are super eded by this Ord r:
3/11 /20 In re: Court Operations Under the Exigent ircum tance Created by COVlD-19;
3/11 /20 In re: Restriction on Visitors to Courthou e , to the xtent that order restricts
access to courthouses by persons who have visited variou location within the past 14 days;
3/16/20 COVID-19 Ord r Re: Court Matters·
3/ 16/20 COVID-19 General Order Re: Probation ompl iance Hearings, & Attorney
Admissions, to the extent that order uspend Compliance Review Hearings·
3/24/20 COVID-19 Jury uspension Order
3/24/20 COVID-19 Hearing Continuation Ord r; and
4/2/20 uperseding General Order Re: March 24, 2020 Jury u pension Order.
0 ORDERED:
/s/ Stefan R. Underhill
Dated: April 27. 2020
Bridgeport CT £ fan R. Underhill
Chief United tates District Judge
