IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
IN RE: )
)
STAY OF CIVIL PROCEEDINGS )
IN THE UNITED STATES ) ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO.
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE )
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ) 2019-01
IN LIGHT OF LAPSE OF )
APPROPRIATIONS )
)
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER STAYING CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
Federal funding for certain functions of the United States of
America, including the Department of Justice, lapsed at midnight
of December 21, 2018. Since that time, no appropriation bill or
continuing resolution has been passed that would restore funding
to the Department or other federal agencies that have also
experienced a lapse in appropriations. The Court has been informed
that because of this lapse attorneys and other employees of the
Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the
Middle District of Georgia, with limited exceptions, are
prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, during the
lapse of funding. Furthermore, employees of many other federal
agencies who may have matters before the Court, with limited
exceptions, also are prohibited from working, even on a voluntary
basis, during the lapse of funding.
The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia,
on behalf of the United States, its federal agencies, and its
officers and employees, has filed an emergency motion for an
administrative order staying all civil cases in which the United
States, its federal agencies, and its officers and employees are
named parties or in which the United States Attorney or any
Assistant United States Attorney is counsel of record based on the
current lapse in appropriations. The motion is granted.
Accordingly, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(1) Any and all civil cases (excluding civil immigration
habeas matters) pending in the District Court of the
Middle District of Georgia in which the United States,
any of its federal agencies, or any of its officers
and/or employees is a named party, including any such
matter pending before a magistrate judge, are stayed
until Congress has restored appropriations to the
Department of Justice and the subject client agency or
agencies, or enacted another continuing resolution,
restoring funds to the Department and the subject client
agency or agencies.
(2) Any and all civil cases (excluding civil immigration
matters) pending in the District Court of the Middle
District of Georgia in which the United States Attorney
or any Assistant United States Attorney is counsel of
record, including any such matter pending before a
Magistrate Court Judge, are hereby stayed until Congress
has restored appropriations to the Department of Justice
and the subject client agency or agencies, or enacted
another continuing resolution, restoring funds to the
Department and the subject client agency or agencies.
(3) The United States Attorney’s Office shall notify the
Court as soon as Congress has appropriated funds for the
Department of Justice and the subject client agency or
agencies or enacted another continuing resolution
restoring funds to the Department and the subject client
agency or agencies.
(4) At the point that Congress has appropriated funds for
the Department and the subject client agency or
agencies, or enacted another continuing resolution,
restoring funds to the Department and the subject client
agency or agencies, all deadlines in place as of the
date of this Order shall automatically be extended for
a period of time commensurate with the duration of the
lapse in appropriations without further order of the
Court.
SO ORDERED this 8th day of January, 2019.
S/Clay D. Land
CLAY D. LAND, CHIEF JUDGE
