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r':!CHARO W. NAt.EL
CL~RK OF ci·vRT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
2020 JUL 21 PH 2: t.S
U.S. OISTRiCT CCUiH
In Re: ~OUTHERN DIST. OHIO
tAST. DIV. COLUMBUS
FURTHER ORDER REGARDING
COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE GENERAL ORDER 20-21
ONGOING EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES
CREATED BY COVID-19
Appointment of Counsel for
Compassionate Release Motions
Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3006A(a)(I) and (c), the Office of the
Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio ("Federal Public Defender") is hereby
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. §§ 3582(c) and (d), and, where appropriate, to file a motion for
compassionate release.
Should the Federal Public Defender conclude that it cannot undertake the representation
described in this Order, whether due to conflict or capacity, a member of the Criminal Justice
Act Panel shall be appointed to represent the defendant.
In the case of a defendant who was previously represented by a member of the Criminal
Justice Act Panel ("CJA"), and where the CJA counsel expresses a willingness to represent the
defendant in pursuing compassionate release, CJA counsel is hereby appointed under this Order
to determine 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. §§ 3582(c) and (d), and, where
appropriate, to file a motion for compassionate release.
The Clerk's Office shall promptly notify the Federal Public Defender of all pro se
motions seeking compassionate release. These pro se filings will be reviewed by the Federal
Public Defender and timely addressed in the manner described above.
For purposes of determining eligibility and preparing compassionate release motions, the
Court directs the United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Ohio to disclose
Presentence Investigation Reports, Judgments in a Criminal Case, and Statements of Reasons to
the Federal Public Defender, CJA counsel, or privately retained counsel.
All requests for compassionate release shall be filed in the original criminal case. In the
event that the presiding judge in the original proceeding is no longer serving as a judge in this
District, the case shall be reassigned on a random basis under pursuant to the Rules of the
Southern District of Ohio.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: July 21, 2020
CIDEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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