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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
6 In Re:
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NEW MODIFIED COURT GENERAL ORDER NO. 18-20
8 OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY
9 COVID-19 AND RELATED
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CORONAVIRUS
11 This General Order is being issued in response to the continuing outbreak of Coronavirus
12 Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in this District. On March 17 and 25, 2020, the Court entered General
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Orders 02-20 and 03-20 addressing, among other things, the closing of the Seattle and Tacoma
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Courthouses for at least 30 days and the procedures for conducting civil and criminal matters
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16 remotely. The Court incorporates here its prior findings regarding COVID-19 and the emergency
17 declarations and public health guidelines as set forth in those prior General Orders.
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On April 13, 2020, the Court continued the procedures established by General Orders 02-
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20 and 03-20 for 30 days. Further continuances were issued on May 13, July 30, September 4,
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and most recently October 2, 2020.
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22 In the last three months, the daily number of positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths
23 have significantly increased in the Western District of Washington. This has foreclosed the
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possibility of further increasing the number and type of in-court proceedings. A statewide
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vaccination effort has begun, with the first doses going to “Phase 1A” groups, which include
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frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff. The distribution of the vaccine
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months. At this time, it appears likely that the majority of individuals with business in the
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2 Courthouses, including potential jurors, will not be fully vaccinated before March 31, 2021.
3 Limiting the size and frequency of gatherings remain critical to preventing serious injury and
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death from COVID-19.
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Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that the procedures established by General Order 15-
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20 will be continued until March 31, 2021. All District Court civil and criminal in-person
8 hearings and trials in these Courthouses scheduled to occur before March 31, 2021, are continued
9 pending a future general order from this Court or the order of an individual judge consistent with
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the procedures set forth in General Order 15-20.
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Courthouse lobbies will remain open for the public to use drop boxes to deposit
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13 documents for filing and payments for the District Clerk’s Office. Individuals may enter the
14 courthouses to conduct official business provided they have scheduled appointments or
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notifications to do so. Members of the public who wish to view a criminal proceeding or trial
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will be directed to the Court’s website to access video streaming of those proceedings.
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The Court further ORDERS the continuation of the following procedural changes:
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19 1. In order to limit the physical exchange of documents, signatures on documents in civil
20 and criminal proceedings conducted remotely will not be required. Instead, the Court
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will make a record that the document has been reviewed and authorized by the
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signatory and is fully binding. Such documents include, but are not limited to:
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a. Financial affidavits (28 U.S.C. 1746);
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25 b. CJA Appointments;
26 c. Consents to proceed before a magistrate judge;
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d. Waiver of in-person hearings in criminal matters;
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e. Appearance bonds/Orders of release;
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2 f. Plea agreements;
3 g. Jury verdicts; and
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h. Judgments.
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2. Local Civil Rule 32 continues to include among the definitions of “Unavailable
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Witness” in FRCP 32(4)(C) the following: “concern about personal health risks from
8 exposure to the COVID-19 virus.”
9 Other General Orders addressing particular COVID-19 issues have not expired and need
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not be modified at this time.
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Dated this 30th day of December, 2020.
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RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
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CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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