IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN RE: :
:
TERMINATION OF COVID-19 : STANDING ORDER
PANDEMIC-RELATED STANDING :
ORDERS :
On April 10, 2023, the President signed into law H.J. Res. 7, terminating the national
emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this measure, the Court issues this
Standing Order to formally terminate its prior pandemic-related Standing Orders, to the extent they
have not expired according to their own terms. Those pandemic-related protocols that were
initially adopted by Standing Order but were later made permanent as part of the recent revision
of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure are noted below.
1. The following Standing Orders are hereby TERMINATED:
• In re: Temporary Continuance of Civil and Criminal Jury Trials Due to the Exigent
Circumstances Created by COVID-19 (March 13, 2020);
• In re: Temporary Suspension of Attorney Admission Ceremonies (March 16, 2020);
• In re: Courthouse Access During the COVID-19 Outbreak (March 17, 2020);
• In re: Electronic Filing of Complaints in Civil Cases (March 17, 2020) 1;
• In re: Additional Adjustments to Court Proceedings Due to the Exigent
Circumstances Created by COVID-19 (March 18, 2020);
• In re: Courthouse Access During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Supplemental Standing
Order) (March 20, 2020);
• In re: Temporary Closing of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse in Philadelphia
(March 25, 2020);
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Under Local Rule of Civil Procedure 5.1.2, subsection 2(b), as amended May 8, 2023,
attorneys are now required to commence a civil action by electronic filing, except as otherwise
provided in the Local Rules and the Court’s Standing Orders.
• In re: Video Teleconferencing and Telephone Conferencing for Criminal
Proceedings Under the CARES Act (March 30, 2020), and extensions thereof issued
on June 26, 2020, September 24, 2020, December 21, 2020, March 18, 2021, June
15, 2021, September 10, 2021, December 8, 2021, March 7, 2022, June 3, 2022,
August 31, 2022, November 28, 2022, February 24, 2022, and April 21, 2023;
• In re: Extension of Adjustments to Court Operations Due to the Exigent
Circumstances Created by COVID-19 (April 10, 2020), and further extensions
thereof issued on May 29, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 31, 2020, August 31, 2020,
October 30, 2020, November 25, 2020, January 15, 2021, February 12, 2021,
March 18, 2021, March 30, 2021, June 7, 2021, and June 25, 2021;
• In re Interim Payments to CJA Panel Attorneys and Service Providers (April 13,
2020);
• In re: Expanded Use of Electronic Signatures Due to the Exigent Circumstances
Created by COVID-19 (April 15, 2020);
• In re: Extension of Time for Administrative and Civil Forfeiture Proceedings (April
30, 2020);
• In re: Use of Electronic Signatures in Prisoner and Pro Se Cases Due to the Exigent
Circumstances Created by COVID-19 (May 13, 2020) 2; and
• In re: Conducting Arbitration Hearings by Videoconference (October 5, 2020). 3
2. All Standing Orders regarding the mandatory use of masks or face coverings in
common or public areas of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse have been vacated by unanimous
agreement of the Facility Security Committee of the Byrne Courthouse. See In re: Use of Masks
or Face Coverings in Public Areas of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse Upon Termination of
the COVID-19 National Emergency (April 21, 2023).
2
Under Local Rule of Civil Procedure 5.1.2, subsection 8(a), as amended May 8, 2023,
unrepresented litigants using the Court’s Electronic Document Submission tool or other electronic
means authorized by Standing Order may use “s/” to electronically sign documents.
3
The adjustments made in this Standing Order have been incorporated into Local Rule of
Civil Procedure 53.2, which now allows arbitration trials to be conducted remotely by
videoconference with the consent of all parties. See Local R. Civ. P. 53.2, subsection 5(A), as
amended May 8, 2023.
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3. All Standing Orders regarding the mandatory use of masks or face coverings in
common or public areas of the Edward N. Cahn U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building have been
vacated by agreement of a majority of the Facility Security Committee of the Cahn Courthouse.
See In re: Use of Masks or Face Coverings in Public Areas of the Edward N. Cahn U.S.
Courthouse and Federal Building Upon Termination of the COVID-19 National Emergency (June
27, 2023).
4. The Court’s COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines are RESCINDED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Juan R. Sánchez .
Juan R. Sánchez
Chief Judge
Date: June 28, 2023
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