Case 1:00-mc-00308 Document 97 Filed 03/20/20 Page 1 of 3
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
IN RE: *
COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT * MISC. NO. 00-308
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY COVID-19 *
*****
STANDING ORDER 2020-05
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Maryland has declared a state of emergency in
response to the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health
authorities have advised taking precautions to reduce the possibility of exposure to the virus and
slow the spread of the disease; and
WHEREAS, preventing the spread of COVID-19 requires limiting public contact to
essential matters; and
WHEREAS, participants in court proceedings are necessarily often in close proximity to
each other; and
WHEREAS this Court has issued its Second Amended Standing Order 2020-03
postponing and continuing all civil and criminal petit jury selections and trial through April 24,
2020, and non-emergency proceedings through March 27, 2020, the Court has now determined it
necessary to extend the terms of that Order through April 24, 2020 for all non-emergency
proceedings. Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland that, effective
immediately, all civil and criminal petit jury selections and jury trials scheduled to commence
now through April 24, 2020 before any district or magistrate judge in any courthouse in the
District of Maryland are POSTPONED and CONTINUED pending further Order of the Court;
and it is further
Case 1:00-mc-00308 Document 97 Filed 03/20/20 Page 2 of 3
ORDERED that with regard to criminal trials, due to the Court’s reduced ability to obtain
an adequate spectrum of jurors and the effect of the above public health recommendations on the
availability of counsel and Court staff to be present in the courtroom, the time period of the
continuances implemented by this Order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, as the
Court specifically finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the continuances outweigh the
best interests of the public and each defendant in a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§ 3161(h)(7)(A); and it is further
ORDERED that all other civil, criminal, and bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. District
Court for the District of Maryland, including court appearances, trials, hearings, settlement
conferences, conference calls, naturalization and admission ceremonies, and grand jury meetings
now scheduled to occur from March 16, 2020, through April 24, 2020, are POSTPONED and
will be rescheduled at a later date, unless the presiding judge in an individual case issues an order
after the date of this Order directing that a particular proceeding will be held on or before April
24, 2020. All filing deadlines now set to fall between March 16, 2020, and April 24, 2020, are
EXTENDED by forty-two (42) days, unless the presiding judge in an individual case sets a
different date by an order issued after the date of this Order. Chambers will contact counsel to
reschedule proceedings when appropriate. Central Violations Bureau proceedings
(misdemeanor, traffic, and petty offense dockets) will be addressed by separate order; and it is
further
ORDERED that due to the unavailability of a grand jury in this District, the 30-day time
period for filing an indictment or an information is TOLLED as to each defendant during the
time period March 16, 2020 through April 24, 2020, in alignment with 18 U.S.C. § 3161(b); and
it is further
2
Case 1:00-mc-00308 Document 97 Filed 03/20/20 Page 3 of 3
ORDERED that the Court will remain open for emergency criminal, civil, and
bankruptcy matters related to public safety, public health and welfare, and individual liberty; and
it is further
ORDERED that this Order does not toll any applicable statute of limitations. Electronic
filing through CM/ECF will remain available, and self-represented litigants may deposit and
date-stamp papers in drop boxes at each courthouse between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday. For emergency criminal matters, please contact the assigned duty magistrate
judge. For emergency civil matters, please contact the Clerk’s Office at (410) 962-3625 or (301)
802-6170. For emergency bankruptcy matters, please contact the Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s
Office at (410) 962-2688 for Baltimore and (301) 344-8018 for Greenbelt; and it is further
ORDERED that further Orders addressing COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE
EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY COVID-19 will be entered as circumstances
warrant; and it is further
ORDERED that Second Amended Standing Order 2020-03 is RESCINDED.
/s/JAMES K. BREDAR
Date: March 20, 2020 James K. Bredar, Chief Judge
United States District Court
3
