UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
GENERAL ORDER 23-3
MARCH 10, 2023
IN RE: CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC EMERGENCY
FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER CONCERNING
VIDEO AND TELEPHONE CONFERENCING FOR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
SAYLOR, C.J.
Based on the finding of the Judicial Conference of the United States 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 the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) will materially affect the functioning of the federal courts generally, as Chief Judge
of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, upon motion duly made and
granted, I hereby authorize the use of video teleconferencing, or telephone conferencing if video
teleconferencing is not reasonably available, for certain criminal proceedings as authorized by the
CARES Act, Pub. L. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281.
1. Events to Which This Order Applies. This order applies to the following events:
(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.
(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. Consent of Defendant Required. Such videoconferencing or telephone conferencing may
only take place with the consent of the defendant, or the juvenile, after consultation with
counsel.
3. Duration of Authorization. This authorization shall continue for 30 days from March 10,
2023, the effective date of this Order or the date that the emergency authority has been
terminated by act of the President or the Judicial Conference of the United States,
whichever is earlier, unless extended pursuant to law. If emergency conditions continue to
exist 30 days from the date of this Order, I will review this authorization and determine
whether to extend it.
So Ordered.
/s/ F. Dennis Saylor IV______________
F. Dennis Saylor IV
Dated: March 10, 2023 Chief Judge, United States District Court
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