Case 1:20-mc-00004 Document 14 Filed 03/31/20 Page 1 of 2
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
IN THE MATTER OF:
VIDEO AND TELECONFERENCES IN FELONY No. 20‐MC‐00004‐14
GUILTY PLEA PROCEEDINGS BEFORE
MAGISTRATE JUDGES UNDER THE
CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND
ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
Consistent with this District’s longstanding practices and procedures, and pursuant to the
provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(a) and the powers conferred therein,
this Court has renewed its referral of all guilty plea proceedings in felony criminal matters in the
District of New Mexico to be conducted by a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of
New Mexico. See Administrative Order No. 20‐MC‐00004‐13, filed 3/31/2020. The Court also
has authorized the use of video conferencing, or telephone conferencing if video conferencing is
not reasonably available, for certain felony pleas under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 under specified
circumstances in accordance with Sec. 15002(b)(2) of the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act,” H.R. 478 (the “Act”). See Administrative Order No. 20‐MC‐00004‐12 at 2, filed
3/30/2020.
In the event a defendant has consented to having a magistrate judge preside over his or
her guilty plea as outlined in Administrative Order No. 20‐MC‐00004‐13, the magistrate judge
becomes the “presiding judge” for that guilty plea proceeding as that term is used in the Act.
After the magistrate judge has received the defendant’s consent to preside over his or her guilty
plea, the presiding judge (hereinafter referred to as the “presiding magistrate judge”) has
Case 1:20-mc-00004 Document 14 Filed 03/31/20 Page 2 of 2
discretion to use video conferencing, or telephone conferencing if video conferencing is not
reasonably available, based on this Court’s finding that certain felony pleas under Fed. R. Crim.
P. 11 cannot be conducted in person without seriously jeopardizing public health and safety. See
Administrative Order No. 20‐MC‐00004‐12 at 2. If the presiding magistrate judge elects to use
video or telephone conferencing in a felony case, he or she must also make a finding that the
guilty plea cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice.
In accordance with the Act, this Order will remain in effect until the Judicial Conference
finds that emergency conditions no longer materially affect the functioning of the Court.
However, if the Judicial Conference fails to terminate its emergency declaration within 90 days
from the entry of this Order, the Court will review the video conference authorization and
determine whether to extend the provisions herein.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 31st day of March 2020.
FOR THE COURT:
_________________________________
WILLIAM P. JOHNSON
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
District Version v6.2.4 LIVE DB https://ecf.nmd.circ10.dcn/cgi-bin/Dispatch.pl?866034722614273
Notices
1:20-mc-00004 Administrative Orders
U.S. District Court
District of New Mexico - Version 6.2.4
Notice of Electronic Filing
The following transaction was entered on 3/31/2020 at 3:32 PM MDT and filed on 3/31/2020
Case Name: Administrative Orders
Case Number: 1:20-mc-00004
Filer:
Document Number: 14
Docket Text:
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER: In the Matter of Video and Teleconferences in Felony Guilty Plea
Proceedings Before Magistrate Judges under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic
Security Act (cg)
1:20-mc-00004 Notice has been electronically mailed to:
1:20-mc-00004 Notice has been delivered by fax to:
1:20-mc-00004 Notice has been delivered by USPS to:
The following document(s) are associated with this transaction:
Document description:Main Document
Original filename:n/a
Electronic document Stamp:
[STAMP dcecfStamp_ID=1167529506 [Date=3/31/2020] [FileNumber=10749327-
0] [3514250c7b2009335827aa67a2337186de7ef7c73c0c22af9fd4ec112f9752f4a8
94979a75ee2631ef06b10c5072614b67fb99ec18921cc45116713b38b70c4b]]
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