FILED IN CLERK'S OFFICE
U.S.D.C ATLANTA
Apr 18, 2023
Date: __________________________
KEVIN P. WEIMER, Clerk
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT By: ____________________________
s/Judith Motz
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA Deputy Clerk
IN RE: COVID-19 GENERAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS GENERAL ORDER 23-02
ORDER
On April 10, 2023, following House and Senate passage, President Biden
signed into law a Joint Resolution (H.J. Res. 7) that terminated the COVID-19
National Emergency Declaration President Trump made on March 13, 2020. At the
same time, the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared under section 319 of
the Public Health Service Act is expected to end on May 11, 2023. Due to these
developments, the Court has revisited its previously entered general and
administrative orders relating to COVID-19 and hereby ORDERS as follows:
(1) General Order 21-04 as amended, which requires entrance screening and,
under certain circumstance, mask wearing, is hereby VACATED effective May 11,
2023. However, until further notice any juror who is exposed to COVID-19 or tests
positive for COVID-19 at any time within ten days prior to jury service must not
report for service but instead must contact the jury office at 404-215-1640 for further
instructions. Pursuant to their inherent authority, individual judges may require
participants to wear masks in proceedings over which they preside.
(2) By its terms, General Order 20-04 as amended, which authorizes video
and telephone conferencing in certain criminal proceedings due to COVID-19
pursuant to the CARES Act, will terminate on May 10, 2023, the date that is 30 days
after the termination of the COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration. After May
10th, use of video or telephone conferencing technologies in criminal cases must
comply with the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and any relevant statutes
independent of the CARES Act.
(3) General Order 20-05 has authorized CJA panel attorneys to submit
claims for interim compensation. While it initially was intended as a temporary
procedure, the Court finds that it is a useful option that should continue. Therefore,
the procedures allowing interim compensation for CJA panel attorneys set forth in
General Order 20-05 will remain in force until further notice.
(4) General Order 20-06 has authorized electronic filing of sealed documents
in criminal cases. While initially intended as a temporary procedure, the Court finds
that it is a useful option that should continue. Therefore, the procedures allowing the
filing of sealed documents in criminal cases set forth in General Order 20-06 will
remain in force until further notice.
(5) The Judicial Conference of the United States has extended its temporary
exception to the Judiciary’s broadcasting policy to allow the use of teleconferencing
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technology to provide audio-only remote access to district court proceedings for the
public and the media. Therefore, Administrative Order 20-03, which authorizes
public and media access to video and telephone conference proceedings, is hereby
AMENDED to authorize audio-only remote access to Court proceedings for the
public and media and EXTENDED until audio-only remote public access no longer
is permitted by the Judicial Conference. This extension is retroactive to April 10,
2023.
This Order supersedes all other previous orders to the extent they are
inconsistent with this Order. This Order will remain in effect until further notice.
SO ORDERED this 18th day of April 2023.
________________________________________
TIMOTHY C. BATTEN, SR.
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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