Opinion
S3 19 Cr. 704 (LAP)
11-15-2021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. BRANDON BECKER and STEVEN SHORT, Defendants.
ORDER
LORETTA A. PRESKA, United States District Judge
The conference scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EST on November 17, 2021 will occur as a teleconference using the following teleconference information: (877) 402-9753, access code: 6545179. In accordance with the Court's Emergency Individual Rules and Practices in Light of COVID-19, counsel should adhere to the following rules and guidelines during the hearing:
1. Each party should designate a single lawyer to speak on its behalf (including when noting the appearances of other counsel on the telephone).
2. Counsel should use a landline whenever possible, should use a headset instead of a speakerphone, and must mute themselves whenever they are not speaking to eliminate background noise. In addition, counsel should not use voice-activated systems that do not allow the user to know when someone else is trying to speak at the same time.
3. To facilitate an orderly teleconference and the creation of an accurate transcript, counsel are required to identify themselves every time they speak. Counsel should spell any proper names for the court reporter. Counsel should also take special care not to interrupt or speak over one another.
4. If there is a beep or chime indicating that a new caller has joined while counsel is speaking, counsel should pause to allow the Court to ascertain the identity of the new participant and confirm that the court reporter has not been dropped from the call.
If possible, defense counsel shall discuss the attached Waiver of Right to be Present at Criminal Proceeding with the Defendant prior to the proceeding. If the Defendant consents, and is able to sign the form (either personally or, in accordance with Standing Order 20-MC-174 of March 27, 2020, by defense counsel), defense counsel shall file the executed form at least 24 hours prior to the proceeding. In the event the Defendant consents, but counsel is unable to obtain or affix the Defendant's signature on the form, the Court will conduct an inquiry at the outset of the proceeding to determine whether it is appropriate for the Court to add the Defendant's signature to the form.
To the extent that there are any documents relevant to the proceeding, counsel should submit them to the Court (by email or on ECF, as appropriate) at least at least 24 hours prior to the proceeding. To the extent any documents require the Defendant's signature, defense counsel should endeavor to get them signed in advance of the proceeding as set forth above; if defense counsel is unable to do so, the Court will conduct an inquiry during the proceeding to determine whether it is appropriate for the Court to add the Defendant's signature.
SO ORDERED.
CONSENT TO PROCEED BY TELECONFERENCE
Defendant ____hereby voluntarily consents to participate in the following proceeding via phone:
__Initial Appearance/Appointment of Counsel
__Arraignment (If on Felony Information, Defendant Must Sign Separate Waiver of Indictment Form)
__ Preliminary Hearing on Felony Complaint
___Bail/Revocation/Detention Hearing
__Status and/or Scheduling Conference
___Misdemeanor Plea/Trial/Sentence
This proceeding was conducted by reliable teleconferencing technology.