Sample Orders from around the country
State Specific Orders
The Iowa Judicial Branch has launched interactive small claims forms statewide, the second set of Iowa Interactive Court Forms.
Chief Justice Christensen signed an order postponing all jury trials until February 1, 2021.
A public service announcement (PSA) released today informs Iowans called for jury service about the safety measures the Iowa Judicial Branch and counties are providing to ensure the health and safety of Iowans serving on juries.
- Arizona
The Court has adopted the following General Order(s):
20-35 -- Resumption of Grand Juries in the District of Arizona (SUPERSEDES General Order 20-27) -- Filed 09/11/2020
To view this new general order, please click on the following link, or copy and paste it into your browser:http://www.azd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/general-orders/20-35.pdf
For the complete list of General Orders on the District of Arizona website, go to: http://www.azd.uscourts.gov/general-orders
- California
Amended General Order 20-06 Reopening Intake Area in The Santa Ana Division
On September 11, 2020, Chief Judge Maureen A. Tighe issued Amended General Order 20-06 In Re: Procedures for Phased Reopening During COVID-19 Public Emergency in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to more closely align with District Court operations in light of the United States District Court General Order 20-09, entered on August 6, 2020, which closed Courthouses in the Central District of California to the public, with limited exceptions, and United States District Court Notice from the Clerk, dated September 11, 2020, which reopened the Santa Ana Courthouse to the public.
Effective Monday, September 14, 2020, the Intake area of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Santa Ana will reopen to the public to accept in-person filings. Additionally, the Intake area of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles will remain open to the public and will be able to accept in-person emergency filings from any division. All other Intake areas in the other Divisions remain closed. Individuals filing bankruptcy without an attorney may also file by mail or through the Court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) module. Please refer to Amended General Order 20-06 for specific filing requirements.
Judges will continue to hear matters remotely through telephonic or by video service, except a judge may order an in-person hearing where necessary in an emergency. Previously issued guidance regarding face coverings in Court facilities, mediations, and judges’ or courtesy copies remains in place.
For further information, please visit the Court’s website at https://www.cacb.uscourts.gov. You may also utilize the website’s Chat Live function or contact the Court’s Call Center at (855) 460-9641, during normal business hours.
To view the entire Public Notice from the Court's website select the following link: http://www.cacb.uscourts.gov/news
- California Fourth Circuit
Suspension of In-Person Oral Arguments for December 7-11, 2020
- Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana Releases Video on Jury Service During COVID Pandemic
- Indianapolis, Indiana – August 27, 2020: Jury duty can induce anxiety even during normal times, but in the midst of a global pandemic, people who receive a summons for federal jury service may have more concerns than usual. In order to allay any worries, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has posted a video detailing the steps the Court is taking to help protect jurors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The video, featuring Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson, provides jurors with an overview of what to expect from the moment they arrive at the courthouse through the conclusion of their service. The Court has a robust plan in place and is following guidelines put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as local and state health officials. Some preventive measures the Court is taking include:
- requiring everyone who enters the courthouse to wear a face covering, unless a valid medical excuse is presented or a judge orders otherwise;
- requiring social distancing of at least 6 feet throughout the courthouse, courtrooms, and jury rooms. Plexiglass barriers have been installed in the few spaces where social distancing is not possible;
- requiring all visitors to answer health screening questions before being allowed to enter a courthouse;
- conducting enhanced cleaning in all public spaces at least once per day. In between enhanced cleaning sessions, court staff will disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
The Court is taking numerous other steps designed to protect jurors, including only starting one jury trial per day and limiting onsite court personnel to just those necessary to maintain court operations. Jurors will receive a packet containing hand sanitizer and other materials when they check in. Jurors are also required take their temperature and do a health self-check before leaving home each day of their jury service. Many other precautions are detailed in the video. Jurors wishing to obtain more information about the steps the court is taking to protect them can be found at https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/covid-19-juror-info.
- Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
- Virtual Hearings Webpage
- The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland will proceed into Phase Three of its recovery plan, effective at 8:30 a.m. on September 28, 2020. Please note that the Court will continue to conduct almost all proceedings virtually during Phase 3, unless the parties are otherwise notified.
As part of its move to Phase Three, effective October 1, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court’s public intake counters will reopen, by appointment only, Monday through Friday (except for federal holidays) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments can be made through the Court's website beginning September 28. The Clerk’s Office remains open to the public through telephone access during regular business hours and the drop boxes located in the lobby of each courthouse. Unrepresented parties can also electronically submit documents via the Court’s Electronic Document Submission System Pilot Program (EDSS), and CM/ECF will continue to be available for electronic filing.
- US District Court of Maryland
- The United States District Court for the District of Maryland has entered Standing Order 2020-20 regarding court operations under the exigent circumstances created by COVID-19. As explained in the Order, the operations of the Court will be reverting back to Phase 1, effective November 16, 2020. All in-court hearings and proceedings will be suspended, and the Courthouses will be closed to the public with limited exceptions. Chambers will contact parties and counsel regarding any scheduled in-court proceedings. Some of these proceedings will be transferred to virtual formats and all others will be postponed.
- The United States District Court for the District of Maryland has entered Standing Order 2021-01 regarding the extension of reduced operations under the exigent circumstances created by COVID-19.
- As explained in the Order, the duration of the restrictions set out in Standing Order 2020-20 are extended through February 26, 2021. All provisions of Standing Order 2020-20 shall remain in force during this extended period, except in urgent and extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Chief Judge.
- Please review the Order for additional details.New Hampshire
New Standing Order on Civil Jury Trials and Mediations
The United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire has entered a new Standing Order (20-30) addressing the status of civil jury trials and mediations.
- New Jersey
Notice to the Bar and Public Concerning District of New Jersey COVID-19 Recovery Guidelines (Phase III).
- New York
US District Court Southern District of NY - Standing Order
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has enacted procedures for holding proceedings remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to General Order M-543, hearings and conferences are conducted telephonically through CourtSolutions LLC absent a request by a party for an in-person hearing or conference. Evidentiary hearings and trials require prior coordination with chambers and are often held by videoconference through ZoomGov. To more accurately reflect the virtual location of remote hearings, the Court has added location codes to CM/ECF for use when docketing entries which prompt the input of location information. Please use the new location codes listed below when docketing matters with remote hearings.
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (CGM)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (JLG)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (MEW)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (MG)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (RDD)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (SCC)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (SHL)
- Teleconference Line (CourtSolutions) (SMB)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (CGM)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (JLG)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (MEW)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (MG)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (RDD)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (SCC)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (SHL)
- Videoconference (ZoomGov) (SMB)
- North Carolina
NCMB - Fourth Amended Standing Order Regarding Court Operations under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19
- North Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota has updated its COVID-19 order to continue grand juries through Dec. 31 and petit juries through Jan. 31, 2021.
- Federal Bankruptcy Oregon
The Court's News and Announcements List has an update:
Proposed Federal Rule Amendments Published for Public Comment by February 16, 2021
- Rhode Island
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules have proposed amendments to the following rules and have asked that they be circulated to the bench, bar, and public for comment.
Appellate Rule: 25
Bankruptcy Rules: Restyled Rules Parts I and II; Rules 1007, 1020, 2009, 2012, 2015, 3002, 3010, 3011, 3014, 3016, 3017.1, 3017.2 (new), 3018, 3019, 5005, 7004, and 8023; and Official Forms 101, 122B, 201, 309E-1, 309E-2, 309F-1, 309F-2, 314, 315, and 425A
Civil Rules: Rule 12 and Supplemental Rules for Social Security Review Actions Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)
Criminal Rule: 16
The proposed amendments and the advisory committees’ reports explaining the proposed changes are posted on the Judiciary’s website. The information is posted in a printable format for those who prefer hard-copy documents.
The public comment period opens on August 14, 2020 and closes on February 16, 2021.
In the interests of the efficient and effective administration of justice in
civil actions and as part of reasonable public health measures taken to assist
with minimizing the spread of COVID-19 during this surge in the pandemic, the
U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island will conduct all trials
and all phases of trial from empanelment to deliberation in civil actions via
the zoomgov.com platform until further notice. More information can be found here.
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