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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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GENERAL ORDER 13-22
11 IN RE: HEARINGS BY VIDEO OR
TELEPHONE AS AUTHORIZED BY
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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 Aid,
18 Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020. Pursuant to Sections
19 15002(b)(1) and 15002(b)(2)(A) of the Act, on March 29, 2020, the Judicial Conference of the
20 United States found that emergency conditions due to the national emergency declared by the
21 President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.) with respect to
22 COVID–19 will materially affect the Federal courts generally.
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GENERAL ORDER 13-22 - 1
1 On March 30, 2020, this Court issued General Order No. 04-20 finding that, pursuant to §
2 15002(b)(2)(A) of the CARES Act, certain criminal proceedings could not be conducted in
3 person without seriously jeopardizing public health and safety. The Court therefore authorized
4 the use of video conferences or telephone conferences for those proceedings. This authorization
5 was renewed on June 25, 2020, in General Order No. 09-20, on September 24, 2020, in General
6 Order No. 14-20, on December 23, 2020, in General Order No. 17-20, on March 23, 2021, in
7 General Order No. 06-21, on June 21, 2021, in General Order No. 09-21, on September 23, 2021
8 in General Order 13-21, on December 22, 2021 in General Order 14-21, on March 22, 2022, in
9 General Order 05-22, on June 20, 2022 in General Order 06-22, and on September 15, 2022 in
10 General Order 10-22.
11 Ninety days after such an order, the chief judge must “review the authorization and
12 determine whether to extend the authorization.” § 15002(b)(3)(A). I have reviewed the current
13 procedures of the Court and have considered the ongoing impact of COVID-19, including the
14 continued public health emergency. I have also considered the impact of the onset of flu season,
15 and the threat posed by illnesses such as the respiratory syncytial virus (“RSV”). Therefore, in
16 the interest of public health and safety, the procedures set forth in General Order 04-20 must be
17 extended another 90 days from today’s date.
18 IT IS SO ORDERED.
19 Dated this 15th day of December, 2022.
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David G. Estudillo
22 Chief United States District Judge
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GENERAL ORDER 13-22 - 2
