FILED
Nov 21 2023
United States District Court
Northern District of Ohio
General Order
AMENDED GENERAL ORDER NO. 2020-07
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
)
IN RE: )
)
MOTIONS UNDER SECTION 603(b) ) ORDER NO. 2020-07-3
OF THE FIRST STEP ACT FOR )
COMPASSIONATE RELEASE )
)
Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. Sections 3006A(a)(1) and (c), the
Office of the Federal Public Defender and CJA counsel may be appointed to represent
any defendant convicted in this District, who was previously determined to have been
entitled to appointment of counsel, or who is now indigent, to decide whether the
defendant is eligible to petition the Court for compassionate release under Section
603(b) of the First Step Act of 2018, 18 U.S.C. Sections 3582(c) and (d), and, where
appropriate, to file a motion for compassionate release.
The Court authorizes the disclosure to the Office of the Federal Public Defender,
CJA counsel and to the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of
Ohio of all presentence investigation reports and sentencing orders, including those
portions of such orders not available through the Court’s electronic filing system
(statement of reasons), for those inmates who have been identified as being potentially
eligible for compassionate release. The disclosure authorized by this Order shall be for
the sole purpose of enabling both parties identified above to make a preliminary
assessment as to an inmate’s potential eligibility for compassionate release.
Each judicial officer shall promptly appoint either the Office of the Federal Public
Defender or CJA counsel to all pro se motions and/or letters seeking timely
compassionate release. These pro se filings will be reviewed by the Office of the
Federal Public Defender or CJA counsel and timely addressed.
Within thirty (30) days of the filing of the pro se motion for compassionate release
pursuant to Section 603(b) of the First Step Act of 2018, 18 U.S.C. Sections 3582(c)
and (d), the Office of the Federal Public Defender or CJA counsel will file either a
supplemental motion or a statement indicating they will not be filing anything on
defendant’s behalf.
The United States will have thirty (30) days in which to file a response after the
Office of the Federal Public Defender or CJA counsel files a supplemental motion for
compassionate release or a statement indicating they will not be filing anything on
defendant’s behalf.
Nothing in this order prevents a Judge from revising the above time periods
either on motion of a party or if doing so is in the interest of justice in any particular
case.
In the event a judicial officer is considering granting a motion for compassionate
release, the U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Office is to be notified immediately, as
they are required to investigate a release plan.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
FOR THE COURT
Sara Lioi
Chief Judge
