Opinion
18 Cr. 287 (AT)
10-01-2020
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARIO POWELL, Defendant.
ORDER :
It is hereby ORDERED that the Court will hold a conference in this action on October 8, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. The hearing shall proceed by videoconference. See In re Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic, 20 Misc. 176, ECF No. 3 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 16, 2020) ("[C]onditions, which are unlikely to be alleviated in the near future, make it impossible for the judges in this District to conduct all criminal proceedings in person in the courthouses."). Instructions for the parties' participation in and the public's observance of the proceeding are set out below.
I. Instructions
The conference shall proceed via videoconference using the CourtCall platform. As requested, defense counsel will be given an opportunity to speak with the Defendant by telephone for fifteen minutes before the proceeding begins (i.e., at 8:45 a.m.); defense counsel should make sure to answer the telephone number that was previously provided to chambers at that time.
To optimize the quality of the video feed, only the Court, the Defendant, defense counsel, and counsel for the Government will appear by video for the proceeding; all others will participate by telephone. Due to the limited capacity of the CourtCall system, only one attorney per party may participate. Co-counsel, members of the press, and the public may access the audio feed of the conference by calling 855-268-7844 and entering access code 32091812# and PIN 9921299#.
In advance of the conference, chambers will email the parties with further information on how to access the conference. Those participating by video will be provided a link to be pasted into their browser. The link is non-transferrable and can be used by only one person; further, it should be used only at the time of the conference because using it earlier could result in disruptions to other proceedings.
To optimize use of the CourtCall technology, all those participating by video should:
1. Use the most recent version of Firefox, Chrome, or Safari as the web browser. Do not use Internet Explorer.
2. Use hard-wired internet or WiFi. If using WiFi, the device should be positioned as close to the Wi-Fi router as possible to ensure a strong signal. (Weak signals may cause delays or dropped feeds.)
3. Minimize the number of others using the same WiFi router during the conference.
Further, all participants must identify themselves every time they speak, spell any proper names for the court reporter, and take care not to interrupt or speak over one another. Finally, all of those accessing the conference — whether in listen-only mode or otherwise — are reminded that recording or rebroadcasting of the proceeding is prohibited by law.
If CourtCall does not work well enough and the Court decides to transition to its teleconference line, counsel should call (888) 398-2342 or (215) 861-0674 and use access code 5598827.
SO ORDERED. Dated: October 1, 2020
New York, New York
/s/_________
ANALISA TORRES
United States District Judge