H'CHAPD W. N^r:-:i
CLrRK OF r . jHT-
GENERAL ORDER 25-04
2025 oci ~'
AM 8 2
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIOi Disij COURT
GENERAL ORDER ^uJHERN DiST. OHiC
. ASr. DIV. COl'JMBuS
GENERAL ORDER HOLDING IN ABEYANCE
CIVILMATTERS INVOLVINGTHE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY
This matter is before the Court due to the lapse of congressional appropriations
funding the federal government, including the Department of Justice and the United States
Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Absent an appropriation, the United
States represents that certain Department of Justice attorneys and employees of the federal
government are prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited
circumstances, including "emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection
of property. " 31 U. S. C. § 1342. Therefore, the lapse in appropriations requires a reduction in
theworkforceofthe United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio and
other federal agencies, particularly with respect to prosecution and defense of civil cases.
The Court, in response, and with the intent to avoid anydefault or prejudice to the United
States or other civil litigants occasionedby the lapse in funding, sua sponte enters this
General Order. As a result of the cited workforce reductions, it is hereby
ORDERED,effective October 1, 2025, that all civil litigation involving as a party the
United States ofAmerica, its agencies, its officers or employees (whether in their individual
or official capacity and whether current or former employees), and/or any other party
represented by the Department of Justice or the United States Attorney's Office is
immediately suspended, postponed and held in abeyancecontinuing for a period oftwenty-
eight (28) days from October 1, 2025. The Court may renew or modify this General Order
depending on developments in the stay period. The Court intends "civil litigation" to include
all pending non-criminal cases in which the United States, its agencies, its officers or
employees (whether in their individual or official capacity and whether current or former
employees) is in any way a named party and any non-criminal cases in which the United
States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio or the Department of Justice is
counsel of record. This includes, without limitation, all pending Social Security cases and all
cases seeking monetary or equitable reliefin whichtheUnited States is involved asa civil
litigant. The General Order does not affect habeas corpus cases pending or filed under Chapter
153 ofTitle 28.
This General Order suspends and continues, during the stay, any and all events and
deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether establishedby order, rule, or agreement),
including but not limited to any scheduled proceedings, hearings, and/or discovery and pleading
dates. No party will be required to take any steps in civil litigation affected until expiration ofthe
stay. The Court warns litigants that this General Order does not purport to affect rights to or
deadlines concerning appeal from any decision of this Court, which will continue to operate and
issue orders in the normal course.
Any litigant affected by this General Order may seek relief from the order by motion. The
Court may, in any particular case, vary the effect or operation ofthis General Order by a separate
mling.
The Court shall distribute this General Order:
(a) by electronic service to all registered CM/ECF users;
(b) by first-class mail to unregistered civil litigants, including pro se litigants,
and to attorneys pending pro hac vice admission within seven days of this
Order; and
(c) by posting the General Order on the Court's public website.
The Court shall clarify the status ofcase schedules upon expiration ofthe stay and
dependent on the timing ofthe fundingresolution.
ENTER:
FOR THE COURT
/s/ Sarah D. Morrison
Sarah D. Momson
Chief Distalct Judge
Dated at Columbus, Ohio this 1st day of October 2025.
