Filing 1

ORDER - With regard to criminal cases now or hereafter pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, the Court finds that the right of defendants in criminal cases and the public to a speedier trial during the peri od of October 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020, is substantially outweighed by the public interest of protecting the health and safety of the defendants, case participants, court employees, jurors, and the public. Accordingly, the following time period, October 1, 2020, to November 30, 2020, shall be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act. Signed by Chief Judge J. Randal Hall on 9/24/2020. (pts)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COuWt.^I'RA .

FOR THE SOUTHEIUSF DISTRICT OF GEORGI^^'-''^'"

T COURT
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IN RE: Exclusion of Time Under

Speedy Trial Act

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STANDING ORDER MC-

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The Court enters this standing order to address continued court operations in light
of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The Court observes that the March 13,2020
declaration of National Emergency in response to the spread of the coronavirus remains
effective and the Governor of the State of Georgia has extended a public health state of
emergency through October 10. 2020. As of the date of this Order, the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authorities continue to advise the

taking of precautions to reduce the possibility of exposure to the coronavirus and slow the
spread of the disease, including social distancing for the foreseeable future. Further, the

CDC has identified populations who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus,
including members of the public who form our jury pools, members of our Bar, Court
staff, and Judges. These facts render the Court’s current ability to safely conductjury trials
difficult, if not impossible.

Upon considering the current status of the pandemic and in order to protect public

health, including the health of court employees, parties, and court participants, the Court
finds that the ends ofjustice require the following action;

With regard to criminal cases now or hereafter pending in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, the Court finds that the right of

defendants in criminal cases and the public to a speedier trial during the period of October
1, 2020 to November 30, 2020 is substantially outweighed by the public interest of

protecting the health and safety of the defendants, case participants, court employees,
jurors, and the public. Accordingly, the following time period, October 1, 2020 to
November .to, 2020. shall be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C.

§3i6i(h)(7)(A). Although this order permits jury trials to be continued during this
excluded period, any defendant in a criminal case shall have the right to file a motion for
a speedier trial, which shall be considered and decided by the judge assigned to the
defendant’s case.

ORDER ENTERED,

day o

, 2020.

J. RAlim:HALL,'CHIEF JUDGE
UNITEjD STATES DISTRICT COURT
^SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA