FILED
RICHARD W. NAGEL
CLERK Or COURT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2020 NOV -5 Pti 9: 13
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF omo
U.S. DIS r;:u:; f COURT
SOUTHtHN DIST.OHIO
In Re: r: ASr OlV. COLUMBUS
TEMPORARY CLOSURE TO THE
PUBLIC OF THE POTTER STEWART GENERAL ORDER 20-32
COURTHOUSE
The Court was informed by the United States Marshals Service ("USMS") that a Deputy
United States Marshal ("DUSM") whose duty station is the Potter Stewart Courthouse ("Potter
Stewart") has tested positive for COVID-19. The DUSM last worked in Potter Stewart on
Friday, October 30, 2020. The DUSM became symptomatic Sunday evening and was diagnosed
as positive on November 5, 2020. It is understood that while the DUSM may have visited
multiple public areas in Potter Stewart during the week of October 26, 2020 through October 30,
2020, including all floors, the CSO stations, the guard shack and the snack bar, those areas have
since been cleaned and disinfected. The DUSM, however, while infected but asymptomatic,
came into contact with Court employees throughout Potter Stewart, particularly the Court
Security Officers ("CSOs").
In order to ensure the health and safety of the judicial officers, Court and agency staff,
and to prevent possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and the spread of said disease, it is
hereby ORDERED:
(1) Potter Stewart is hereby closed to the public until November 16, 2020, or until
further Order of this Court.
(2) All employees with whom the DUSM is known, through contact tracing, to have
come into contact, including all the CSOs who work at Potter Stewart, are hereby
directed to self-quarantine until November 16, 2020, or until further notice.
(3) During the self-quarantine period, said CSOs and all other persons with whom the
DUSM is known to have come into contact, are directed to get tested for COVID-
19.
(4) The Clerk of Court is hereby directed to work with all potentially affected
employees to ensure their ongoing health and safety and to try to maintain
continuity of operations remotely while the Courthouse remains closed.
(5) The Clerk is further directed to work with the General Services Administration
and other federal agencies with operations in the building to consider future steps,
including detennining when it is safe for the public to return to Potter Stewart.
(6) Any in-Court civil or criminal matters scheduled between November 6 and
November 13, 2020, are hereby CONTINUED pending further Order of the
Judicial Officer to whom the case is assigned. As set forth in General Orders 20-
05, 20-07, and 20-08, all initial appearances, detention hearings, and arraignments
will be conducted via video and teleconference technology as set forth in General
Order 20-05 until November 16, 2020, or further Order of this Court. In all other
civil cases, the Court may also proceed with video and teleconference technology
as appropriate at the discretion of individual Judicial Officers. The Court
recognizes that any continuances occasioned by this Order may require
amendments to the scheduling order in individual cases, which should be
addressed on a case by case basis.
2
(7) All grand jury proceedings scheduled for Potter Stewart between November 6 and
November 13, 2020, are hereby CONTINUED until on or after November 16,
2020, or until further Order of this Court.
(8) As to any continuance in any criminal matter resulting from the provisions of this
General Order, due to public health and safety considerations, the time period of
the continuance set forth herein shall be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, as
the Court specifically finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the
continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and any defendant's right to
a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).
(9) Attorneys are encouraged to continue to file documents with the Court
electronically through CM/ECF. Staff in the Clerk's Office will be available by
telephone, mail will be received, and new filings will be processed. The Court's
intake window, however, will be closed. Those wishing to make in-person
filings, such as prose parties, are directed to contact the Clerk's Office by
telephone at (513) 564-7500.
(10) All probation and pretrial offices in Potter Stewart will be closed to the public but
will continue to conduct business. Drug testing will continue as directed by
Probation and Pretrial. A probation or pretrial services duty officer will answer
questions telephonically.
(11) If you have a scheduled appointment or are otherwise required to appear in a
courtroom at Potter Stewart during the time in which the Courthouse is closed,
you should proceed as follows:
• If you are represented by an attorney, please contact your attorney;
3
• If you are an attorney or a prose litigant and you are scheduled to appear
in court before a judge, please contact that judge's chambers or courtroom
deputy (see court websites at www.ohsd.uscourts.gov);
• For all other matters or questions, please contact the Clerk's Office at
(513) 564-7500.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: November 5, 2020
CIDEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
4
