CLERK'S OFFICE U.S. DISTRICT. COURT
AT ROANOKE, VA
FILED
FEB 2 8 2023
LAU,Ri ~ C K
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT BY·,__lL~l .::,,w-,w.~i=,-;;'--
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA . DEPLfTY CLE
IN THE MATTER OF:
DANVILLE DIVISION CRIMINAL STANDING ORDE R 2023-05
HEARINGS AND TRIALS
In 2021, the United States Marshal for the Western District o f Virginia noted security
concerns with the Danville federal courthouse and recommended limiting court proceedings
in the D anville courthouse posing a security risk. As a result, the court issued Standing Order
2021-10 on May 13, 2021, and Standing Order 2022-09 on April 19, 2022, limiting court
proceedings in the D anville courthouse. Since that time, the court has worked with the City
of D anville, the D anville Circuit Court, and the relevant federal agencies to find reasonable
an d secure alternative facilities for criminal trials and hearings that implicate the security
concerns that necessitated the cessation of certain trials and hearings in the D anville
courthouse. To that end, the court entered into a Day Use Agreement with the City o f D anville
for use of its circuit court facilities for certain criminal trials and hearings, as that space is
available.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED as follows:
1. Standing O rder 2022-09 is VACATED .
2. Criminal proceedings involving federal defendants or witnesses who are in custody
will not be held in the Danville federal courthouse. When feasible, such hearings
will be held in the Danville Circuit Court, 401 Patton Street, Danville, Virginia,
24541. When use of the Danville Circuit Court facilities is needed, the clerk is
directed to advise the Danville Circuit Court and Danville Sheriff's Office as soon
as practicable, to ensure that space is available. ·
3. Criminal proceedings involving noncustodial defendants and witnesses may be held
in the Danville federal courthouse in the discretion of the presiding judge after
consultation with the Marshal.
4. The presiding judge will consult with the Marshal regarding holding proceedings in
Danville in high profile civil cases during which security may be a concern.
5. In the event that space is not available in the Danville Circuit Court for a scheduled
hearing or trial, or in the event that the presiding judge, after consultation with the
-Marshal, determines that security concerns in civil cases necessitates a more secure
facility than the Danville federal courthouse:
a. Hearings and trials in criminal cases involving custodial defendants or
witnesses arising from Henry County, Patrick County, and the City of
Martinsville will be heard in the Roanoke federal courthouse.
b. Hearings and trials in criminal cases involving custodial defendants or
witnesses arising from Charlotte County, Halifax County, Pittsylvania
County, <?r the City of Danville will be heard in the Lynchburg federal
courthouse.
c. Civil cases may be heard in either the Roanoke or Lynchburg federal
courthouse, in the discretion of the presiding judge.
d. Because of concerns over the burden of jurors having to travel from the
Danville Division to trials conducted in the Roanoke or Lynchburg
courthouses and the requirements of the court's Jury Selection Plan, the
presiding judge has the discretion to summons jurors from the Roanoke or
Danville Division Qualified Jury Wheels for cases to be tried in Roanoke,
and from the Lynchburg or Danville Division Qualified Jury Wheels for
cases to be tried in Lynchburg.
6. Large criminal cases involving multiple defendants (regardless of the custody status
of the defendants or witnesses) may be trial in the Ceremonial Courtroom in
Roanoke, in the discretion of the presiding judge.
It is so ORDERED.
Enter: This 28th day of February, 2023.
Michael F. Urbanski
Chief U.S. District Judge
2023.02.28 15:38:34
-05'00'
H on. Michael F. Urbanski
Chief United States D istrict Court
