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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ·- r:nK OF f" ;:':".:IT
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FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF omo
In Re:
FURTHER ORDER REGARDING
COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE GENERAL ORDER NO. 21-11
ONGOING EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES
CREATED BY COVID-19
In accordance with the April 16, 2021, recommendation of the Court's Ad Hoc Committee
on Gating Criteria, and the revised Reconstitution Plan and revised Resumption of Jury Trials Plan,
all as approved by the Court at a Judges' meeting on April 26, 2021, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
I. Effective Monday, May 3, 2021, the federal courthouses in
Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton shall be open for all
proceedings, including in-court proceedings.
2. All jury trials, whether criminal or civil, shall be held in
courtrooms outfitted with plexiglass shielding.
3. For all other non-jury matters which the presiding judge
determines should be conducted in open court, the judge shall
attempt to schedule such proceeding in a plexiglass-shielded
courtroom, but has discretion to proceed in a non-plexiglass-
shielded courtroom if no plexiglass-shielded courtroom is
available and the proceeding cannot be delayed until a
plexiglass-shielded courtroom becomes available. If the judge
proceeds in the non-plexiglass-shielded courtroom, social
distancing as set forth in the Reconstitution Plan shall be
observed.
4. All judges are encouraged, to the maximum extent feasible, to
continue to conduct proceedings by videoconferencing. This
particularly applies to preliminary proceedings in criminal cases
conducted by Magistrate Judges so as to minimize traffic in the
courthouses, consistent with public health standards, and to
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reduce demand on the strained resources of the United States
Marshal's Service.
This General Order does not change any of the preventive measures specified in the
revised Reconstitution Plan including, without limitation:
a. Screening all visitors to the courthouses for indications of COVID-19 infection;
b. Requiring all Court personnel and visitors to wear face masks in specified locations in
the courthouses;
c. Requiring all persons in the courthouses to maintain a physical distance of at least six
feet from other persons ("social distancing"); and
d. Responding to any reported COVID-19 infection in one of the courthouses according
to the detailed protocol provided in the revised Reconstitution Plan.
This Order shall remain in full force and effect until further notice, and supersedes all other
General Orders which are inconsistent with the terms herein.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: May 7, 2021
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