FILED IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF HAWAII
Aug 24, 2022, 9:36 am
Pam Hartman Beyer, Clerk of Court
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAII
IN RE: DISTRICT OF HAWAII GENERAL ORDER 22-05
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
TEMPORARY GENERAL ORDER REGARDING DISTRICT OF HAWAII
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 26, 2022
This Temporary General Order is effective as of August 26, 2022, and
supersedes General Order 22-03, the Court’s “March 18, 2022 Temporary General
Order Regarding District of Hawaii Response to COVID-19 Pandemic.” Further,
the Court’s May 20, 2022 Order regarding Facemasks is VACATED.
The Court continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the State
of Hawaii and the rest of the United States and has carefully balanced the need for
the court to continue its operations against the need to protect the public, court
employees, jurors, litigants, and counsel from being exposed to COVID-19.
With the agreement of the judges of the United States District Court for
the District of Hawaii, the Court orders as follows:
Mitigation Measures for the Courthouse:
• The courthouse and the Clerk’s Office will be open to the public Monday
through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, other than on holidays recognized by
the Court.
• Persons entering the courthouse will not be required to wear a mask, except
as follows:
1) the chief judge has the authority to require the use of facemasks upon
entry to the courthouse should it be deemed necessary for public health;
2) a presiding judge may require the use of facemasks in that judge’s
courtroom; and
3) you must wear a facemask if you have tested positive within the last 10
days or been in close contact with a person that tested positive within the
last 10 days.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be made available throughout the courthouse,
including immediately upon entry and by all elevators.
• To the extent practicable, everyone in public areas of the courthouse should
avoid gathering in large groups and should maintain a safe distance from
others.
• Entry to the courthouse will be denied to anyone, regardless of vaccination
status:
1) who has tested positive for COVID-19, unless 6 days have passed since
receiving the positive test result;
2) who currently resides with a person known to have COVID-19, unless 6
days have passed since the last contact with the positive individual or the
person seeking entry to the courthouse has tested negative for COVID-19;
3) who has symptoms of a COVID-19 infection; or
4) who is required by the State of Hawaii or the City and County of
Honolulu to be in self-quarantine.
Non-Jury Proceedings:
• In order to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the Court will
make efforts to minimize traffic in the courthouse. Each presiding judge
will determine whether civil matters, including case management matters,
settlement conferences, and hearings, will be taken off calendar pursuant to
Local Rule 7.1, or conducted by telephone, Zoom, or in court.
• Each presiding judge will determine how to proceed with non-jury trials.
• At the discretion of the presiding judge, the Court will continue to conduct
certain criminal proceedings by telephone or Zoom as permitted by the
Court’s most current CARES Act Order.
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• Certain criminal proceedings that fall outside the Court’s most recent
CARES Act Order will be conducted in court.
• If a presiding judge elects to proceed with a hearing by telephone or Zoom,
public hearings will be available to members of the public and the media, to
the extent permitted and practicable. Specific information will be available
on each case’s individual docket on PACER, and further instructions can be
found on the Court’s website. Members of the public and media are strictly
prohibited from recording or broadcasting any hearing (whether telephonic
or on Zoom), in whole or in part, in any fashion. Failure to abide by this
restriction may result in sanctions. Further information may be set forth on
the Court’s website, www.hid.uscourts.gov, and may change from time to
time.
• For registered CM/ECF users, filings will be processed in civil and criminal
cases via the CM/ECF electronic system, by mail, in person at the Clerk’s
Office, or through use of the Court’s drop box located outside the
courthouse. Sealed matters may be filed by email to the Clerk’s Office at
[email protected].
• Pro se litigants may file by mail, in person at the Clerk’s Office, using the
Court’s drop box, or by email to the Clerk’s Office at
[email protected]. File-stamped copies will be returned by
United States mail or email. Anyone seeking assistance from the Clerk’s
Office should call (808) 541-1890. Additional procedures for filing court
documents can be found on the Court’s website at the COVID-19
information page atwww.hid.uscourts.gov/covid.
• Parties must provide mandatory chambers copies as required by Local Rule
10.3. Mandatory chambers copies may be mailed as permitted by Local
Rule 10.3(c)(2).
Jury Proceedings:
• The number of jury trials that can be conducted simultaneously may be
limited. After consulting with the Chief Judge, each presiding judge will
make a determination as to whether the lack of a courtroom requires the
continuation of any specific jury trial.
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ORDERED ON BEHALF OFTHE COURT:
DATED: Honolulu, Hawaii, ______, 2022.
/s/ J. Michael Seabright
J. Michael Seabright
Chief United States District Judge
In Re: District of Hawaii Response to Covid-19 Pandemic; General Order 22-05
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