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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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9 In re: Motions for Sentence Reduction ) NO. 03-19
Pursuant to Section 404 of the 2018 First )
10 Step Act ) GENERAL ORDER
) RE: FIRST STEP ACT
11 ) (COMPASSIONATE RELEASE
) AND GOOD TIME ISSUES)
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On December 21, 2018, the President signed into law the First Step Act of 2018,
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Pub. L. No 115-391, 132 Stat. 5194 (2018). This legislation provides grounds for certain
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defendants sentenced by this Court to seek relief from their sentences.
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Pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(1)
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and (c), and in order to efficiently process motions and petitions raising potential claims
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for relief under Sections 102(b) (full good time credit) and 603 (compassionate release)
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of the 2018 First Step Act, the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western
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District of Washington is hereby appointed to represent for screening purposes any
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defendant previously determined to have been entitled to appointment of counsel and any
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defendant who is now indigent, to determine whether that defendant may qualify for relief
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under Sections 102(b) and/or 603 of the First Step Act, and to present any petitions,
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motions, or applications relating thereto to the Court for disposition. If, after screening,
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the Federal Public Defender (FPD) identities a prohibitive conflict that would prevent
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FPD representation of a client, or other good cause supports appointment of outside
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1 counsel, the FPD shall inform the judge and request appointment of counsel from the
2 Criminal Justice Act panel.
3 The United States Probation Office is authorized to disclose Presentence
4 Investigation Reports or Modified Presentence Investigation Reports, and Statements of
5 Reasons to the Federal Public Defender’s Office, CJA panel members, retained counsel,
6 and the United States Attorney’s Office for the purpose of determining eligibility for
7 relief under compassionate release provisions of the First Step Act.
8 The United States District Court Clerk’s Office is authorized to notify the Federal
9 Public Defender of any pro se motions for relief filed pursuant to Sections 102 and 603
10 of the First Step Act. The FPD shall assist the Clerk’s Office in determining whether a
11 particular pro se motion for relief is based on these sections of the First Step Act.
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13 Dated this 11th day of April 2019.
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RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
16 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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