In re Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances

Full title: In Re COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY THE…

Court: United States District Court, D. Maine

Date published: Nov 16, 2022

21-mc-00011-JDL (D. Me. Nov. 16, 2022)

Opinion

21-mc-00011-JDL

11-16-2022

In Re COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS & RELATED PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONS

JON D. LEVY CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

GENERAL ORDER 2021-02 (Video and Teleconferencing) (Amended, June 8, 2021) (Amended, September 3, 2021) (Amended, December 1, 2021) (Amended, February 14, 2022) (Amended, May 20, 2022) (Amended, August 12, 2022) (Amended November 16, 2022)

GENERAL ORDER

JON D. LEVY CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

This General Order is issued in response to the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in accordance with the Pandemic/Infectious Disease Plan for the United States District Court for the District of Maine (March 2020). This General Order reauthorizes the use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing. The Court hereby adopts and incorporates the findings made in the Court's previous General Orders as to the threat to public health and safety presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, I hereby reauthorize the use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through February 24, 2023.

In accordance with Section 15002(b)(3)(A) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (2020), I have again reviewed the need for the continued use of videoconferencing or telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, as originally authorized by General Order 2020-4 (Mar. 31, 2020) and subsequently reauthorized by General Order 2020-10 (June 30, 2020) and General Order 2020-14 (Sept. 18, 2020; amended Dec. 14, 2020). I find that the use of videoconferencing or telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, continues to be necessary to protect public health and safety.

Effectiveness; Termination: This Amended General Order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. on November 26, 2022, and it shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on February 24, 2023.

SO ORDERED.

Note Regarding June 8, 2021, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, is amended effective June 8, 2021, to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through September 6, 2021.

Note Regarding September 3, 2021, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, and subsequently amended on June 8, 2021, is amended effective September 3, 2021, to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through December 2, 2021.

Note Regarding December 1, 2021, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, and subsequently amended on June 8, 2021 and on September 3, 2021, is amended effective December 2, 2021 to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through March 2, 2022.

Note Regarding February 14, 2022, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, and subsequently amended on June 8, 2021, September 3, 2021, and December 2, 2021, is amended effective March 2, 2022 to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through May 30, 2022.

Note Regarding May 20, 2022, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, and subsequently amended on June 8, 2021, September 3, 2021, December 2, 2021, and March 2, 2022, is amended effective May 30, 2022 to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through August 28, 2022.

Note Regarding August 12, 2022, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, and subsequently amended on June 8, 2021, September 3, 2021, December 2, 2021, March 2, 2022, and May 30, 2022, is amended effective August 28, 2022, to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through November 26, 2022.

Note Regarding November 16, 2022, Amendment:

General Order 2021-02, originally entered on March 12, 2021, and subsequently amended on June 8, 2021, September 3, 2021, December 2, 2021, March 2, 2022, May 30, 2022, and August 28, 2022, is amended effective November 26, 2022, to reauthorize the continued use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing, if videoconferencing is not reasonably available, through February 24, 2023.