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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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11 IN RE:
GENERAL ORDER 13-21
12 HEARINGS BY VIDEO OR
TELEPHONE AS AUTHORIZED BY
13 THE CARES ACT
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16 This General Order is being issued with regard to this Court’s prior response to the
17 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the enactment of the Coronavirus
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Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020. Pursuant to
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20 Sections 15002(b)(1) and 15002(b)(2)(A) of the Act, on March 29, 2020, the Judicial
21 Conference of the United States found that emergency conditions due to the national
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emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
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24 § 1601 et seq.) with respect to COVID–19 will materially affect the Federal courts
25 generally.
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On March 30, 2020, this Court issued General Order No. 04-20 finding that,
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28 pursuant to § 15002(b)(2)(A) of the CARES Act, certain criminal proceedings could not
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1 be conducted in person without seriously jeopardizing public health and safety. The
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Court therefore authorized the use of video conferences or telephone conferences
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for those proceedings. This authorization was renewed on June 25, 2020, in General
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5 Order No. 09-20, on September 24, 2020, in General Order No. 14-20, on December 23,
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2020, in General Order No. 17-20, on March 23, 2021, in General Order No. 06-21, and
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again on June 21, 2021, in General Order No. 09-21.
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9 Ninety days after such an order, the chief judge must “review the authorization and
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determine whether to extend the authorization.” § 15002(b)(3)(A). I have reviewed the
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12 current procedures of the Court and the daily COVID-19 data from the counties in the
13 Western District of Washington and conclude that, in the interest of public health and
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safety, the procedures set forth in General Order 04-20 must be extended another 90 days
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16 from today’s date.
17 IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated this 23rd day of September, 2021.
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A
RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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