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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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In Re:
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10 EXTENSION OF MODIFIED COURT GENERAL ORDER NO. 07-20
OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT
11 CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY
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COVID-19 AND RELATED
CORONAVIRUS
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This General Order is being issued in response to the continuing outbreak of Coronavirus
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15 Disease 2019 (COVID-19). On March 17 and 25, 2020, the Court entered General Orders 02-20
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for at least 30 days and the procedures for conducting civil and criminal matters remotely. The
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Court incorporates here its prior findings regarding COVID-19 and the state of emergency
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declarations and public health guidelines as set forth in those prior General Orders.
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21 The Court finds that the current guidance of local and national public health officials
22 requires the Courthouses to remain closed. As of the issuance of this Order, the State of
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Washington remains under a Stay Home, Stay Safe Order until May 4, 2020. The daily number
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confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 have recently decreased in Washington, but the
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Governor has indicated that social distancing restrictions may need to continue past May 4, and
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27 public health officials have repeatedly identified the likelihood of a second wave of coronavirus
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Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that the procedures established by General Orders 02-
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2 20 and 03-20 will be continued for another 30 days. All grand jury proceedings, as well as civil
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July 1, 2020, are continued pending further order of the Court.
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The Court continues to find that, due to the current inability to obtain an adequate
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spectrum of jurors and the effect of the above public health situation on the availability of
8 witnesses, counsel and Court staff to be present in the courtroom, the time period of the
9 continuances implemented by this General Order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act,
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as the Court finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the continuances outweigh the best
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interests of the public and any defendant’s right to a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
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13 §3161(h)(7)(A). For the same reasons, the Court finds under 18 U.S.C. § 3060(C) extraordinary
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time period of these continuances.
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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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19 Dated this 13th day of April, 2020.
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RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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