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June 29, 2020 Order Authorizing the Use Of Telephonic and Video Hearings Pursuant to the CARES Act — COVID

D. Haw. Order

FILED IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF HAWAII Jun 29,2020 7:00am CLERK OF COURT IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAII IN RE: JUNE 29, 2020 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE USE OF TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO HEARINGS PURSUANT TO THE CARES ACT JUNE 29, 2020 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE USE OF TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO HEARINGS PURSUANT TO THE CARES ACT On March 30, 2020, this court entered an order pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) authorizing the use of telephonic hearings for specified matters in criminal cases. The March 30, 2020 Order expires as of June 29, 2020. Pursuant to the CARES Act, on March 29, 2020, the Judicial Conference of the United States found that “emergency conditions due to the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq.) with respect to COVID-19 have materially affected and will materially affect the functioning of the federal courts generally.” This finding is still effective. Thus, as Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, acting pursuant to § 15002(b) of the CARES Act, the authority granted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, and based on my own motion, I make the following findings and hereby ORDER: 1. Pursuant to the authority granted under § 15002(b)(1) of the CARES Act, I hereby authorize judges in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, with the consent of the defendant or the juvenile after consultation with counsel, to use video conferencing, or telephonic conferencing if video conferencing is not reasonably available, for the following matters: (A) Detention hearings under section 3142 of title 18, United States Code; (B) Initial appearances under Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; (C) Preliminary hearings under Rule 5.1 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; (D) Waivers of indictment under Rule 7(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; (E) Arraignments under Rule 10 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; (F) Probation and supervised release revocation proceedings under Rule 32.1 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; (G) Pretrial release revocation proceedings under section 3148 of title 18, United States Code; (H) Appearances under Rule 40 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; (I) Misdemeanor pleas and sentencings as described in Rule 43(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and 2 (J) Proceedings under chapter 403 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the “Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act”), except for contested transfer hearings and juvenile delinquency adjudication or trial proceedings. 2. This order is effective as of June 29, 2020, and remains effective for thirty days (until July 29, 2020) unless earlier terminated. If the emergency persists longer than thirty days, I will review the situation for possible extension of authority pursuant to the provisions of the CARES Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to the provisions of the CARES Act, this authority shall terminate on the last day of the covered emergency period or the date on which the Judicial Conference of the United States finds that emergency conditions due to the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act with respect to the COVID-19 virus outbreak no longer materially affect the functioning of either the federal courts generally or the District of Hawaii specifically. IT IS SO ORDERED: DATED: Honolulu, Hawaii, June 29, 2020. /s/ J. Michael Seabright J. Michael Seabright Chief United States District Judge JUNE 29, 2020 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE USE OF TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO HEARINGS PURSUANT TO THE CARES ACT 3
Official source: https://www.hid.uscourts.gov/cms/assets/6a72ac18-aaa9-4659-9f3a-93b57941af01 · retrieved 2026-07-23