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GENERAL ORDER 25-04, AMENDED AM 11-2^
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OEQ^I®TCOURT
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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, includingthe Department of Justiceand the United States
Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Absent an appropriation, the United
States represents that certain Department ofJustice attorneys and employees ofthe 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
ofproperty. " 31 U. S. C. § 1342. Therefore, the lapsein appropriationsrequires a reduction in
theworkforceofthe United States Attorney's Office for the SouthernDistrict of Ohio and
other federal agencies, particularly with respect to prosecution and defenseof 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, suasponte enters this
General Order. As a result of the cited workforce reductions, it is hereby
ORDERED,effective October29, 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 fonner 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 abeyancecontinuingfor a period offourteen
(14) days from October 29, 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 whichthe United States, its agencies, its officers or
employees (whetherin 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 ofOhio or the Department of Justiceis
counsel of record. This includes, without limitation, all pending Social Security cases and all
cases seekingmonetary or equitable reliefin whichtheUnited Statesis involved as a civil
litigant. The General Order does not affect habeas corpus cases pending or filed under Chapter
153 of Title 28.
This General Order suspends and continues, during the stay, any and all events and
deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether established by order, rule, or agreement),
including but not limited to any scheduled proceedings, hearings, and/or discovery and pleading
dates. No party will berequiredto take any stepsin civil litigation affecteduntil expirationofthe
stay. The Court warns litigants that this General Order does not purport to affect rights to or
deadlines concerning appeal from any decision ofthis 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 of this 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, includingpro selitigants,
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 statusofcaseschedulesupon expirationofthestay and
dependent on the timing ofthe fundingresolution.
ENTER:
FOR THE COURT
^/s/Sarah D. Morrison
Sarah D. Morrison
ChiefDistrict Judge
Datedat Columbus, Ohio this 28thdayofOctober2025.
