IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA December 08, 2025
ROANOKE DIVISION
IN RE: CRIMINAL CASES ASSIGNED TO THE
HON. THOMAS T. CULLEN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
STANDING ORDER
2025-17
Criminal cases within the Abingdon division assigned to the undersigned’s docket will
be referred to the Honorable Pamela Meade Sargent, United States Magistrate Judge for the
Western District of Virginia, criminal cases within the Lynchburg and Roanoke divisions of
this court will be referred to the Honorable C. Kailani Memmer, United States Magistrate
Judge for the Western District of Virginia, and criminal cases within the Harrisonburg division
will be referred to the Honorable Joel C. Hoppe, United States Magistrate Judge for the
Western District of Virginia, to conduct any and all pretrial proceedings and rule on any non-
dispositive motions as permitted by law. * See Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(a); 28 U.S.C. § 636.
Additionally, all guilty pleas in the Abingdon division will be referred to Judge Sargent to
conduct the required Rule 11 colloquy, and all guilty pleas in the Harrisonburg division will be
referred to Judge Hoppe for the same purpose. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 & 59(b); 28 U.S.C.
* Non-dispositive motions include, but are not limited to: motions for discovery; motions for protective orders
(and objections or requests for modifications thereto); motions for disclosure of grand jury materials; and
motions for disclosure under the Jenks Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500, Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), or Giglio v.
United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972). Dispositive motions include, but are not limited to: motions to dismiss or
quash an indictment or information; motions to suppress evidence; or any other motion that may dispose of a
charge or defense.
§ 636(b)(3); United States v. Osborne, 345 F.3d 281, 285 (4th Cir. 2003); United States v. Benton,
523 F.3d 424, 431 (4th Cir. 2008). Standing Order 2025-6 is hereby WITHDRAWN.
Finally, the court intends to hold court in the Abingdon division approximately two
days per month; additional dates will be added as necessary to accommodate trial settings. All
parties must endeavor, to the extent practicable, to schedule any hearings or trials on those
dates.
The Clerk is directed to enter this Order in the Order Books for the Abingdon,
Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, and Roanoke Divisions.
ENTERED this 8th day of December, 2025.
___________________________
HON. THOMAS T. CULLEN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
