Opinion
7:23-CR-65 WLS-TQL-18
11-27-2023
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. YARDLEY PAYNE, Defendant.
ORDER
W. LOUIS SANDS, SR. JUDGE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
On November 21, 2023, the Court received correspondence dated November 14, 2023, through the U.S. Mail from Defendant Yardley Payne, a copy of which will be filed under seal. Therein, Defendant Payne requests that he be set free on bond pending trial. A review of the docket, however, reflects that Defendant is currently represented by Barry Debrow, Jr. (See Docket.) On November 21, 2023, a copy of Defendant's correspondence was forwarded to his counsel of record and counsel for the Government.
Courts in this district do not accept pro se filings from criminal defendants who are represented by counsel, United States v. Johnson, No. 1:11-cr-12 (WLS), slip op. at 1 (M.D. Ga. May 1, 2013) (Sands, J.) (“This Court has a longstanding practice of striking pro se filings from defendants who are represented by counsel.”); Harrison v. United States, No. 1:07-cr-45-003 (HL), 2012 WL 3656432, at *1 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 24, 2012).
Accordingly, Defendant Payne is hereby ORDERED to cease filing papers in this Court or submitting requests for relief in this case directly to the Court while he is represented by counsel, unless he seeks express permission from the Court to do so. Counsel for Defendant Payne is hereby ORDERED to promptly provide Defendant with a copy of this Order. Counsel shall confer with Defendant with respect to Defendant's correspondence and proceed in accordance with his duties as counsel and the federal and local rules.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to file UNDER SEAL a copy of Defendant Payne's correspondence dated November 14, 2023.
SO ORDERED.