FILED
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF VERMONT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5/2/2022
DISTRICT OF VERMONT
IN RE: ORDER REVISING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN PUBLIC
AREAS OF FEDERAL BUILDINGS AND COURTHOUSES
GENERAL ORDER NO. 109
This Order vacates General Order No. 107 issued on March 16, 2022.
In accordance with recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), and the updated guidance released by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force on
February 28, 2022, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the following COVID-19 restrictions and
masking requirements based on the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels will apply to all
District of Vermont courthouses as follows:
1. When the CDC COVID-19 Community Level is designated as “high” in the county
where a courthouse is located, indoor mask-wearing and social distancing will be
required in all public spaces for all courthouse visitors, federal employees and on-site
contractors, regardless of vaccination status;
2. When the CDC COVID-19 Community Level is “medium” or “low” in the county where
a courthouse is located, masking and social distancing will not be required, with the
following exceptions:
a. For all criminal hearings involving incarcerated defendants, masks will still be
required in the courtrooms. For the present, video appearance by criminal
defendants remains an option;
b. Grand jury proceedings. Masking will still be required for all participants in
grand jury proceedings;
c. For all unvaccinated individuals, masks will be required in all public areas of the
courthouse and courtrooms.
3. For jury trials, regardless of the CDC COVID-19 Community Level, the presiding judge
will make a ruling about the mask requirement for the parties and others attending the
trial. The judge will make this decision before the trial as part of a broader discussion
about trial preparations and safety precautions with counsel for all parties and other
participants;
4. This order applies only to the common or public areas of the buildings, including
courtrooms; and
5. Each individual agency will determine the requirements for their own internal agency
workspace.
This order shall be effective immediately and will remain in effect until amended or vacated.
Dated at Burlington, in the District of Vermont, this 2nd day of May, 2022.
_____________________________
Hon. Geoffrey W. Crawford
Chief Judge
