U.S. Courts for the District of Montana Administrative Order 20-18 Re: Public Access and Court Operations (Issued April 10, 2020)
Extends prior orders, keeping federal courthouses closed through May 29. All jury trials and related pretrial conferences through May 29 are vacated and will be reset. All other pending deadlines remain in place. Judges may continue to hold non-jury proceedings on a case-by-case basis. Use of video or telephonic communication for proceedings is greatly encouraged; alternative means of electronic filing will be set up for self-represented litigants who otherwise do not have access. Directs Clerk of Court to “promptly establish means of remote public access to court proceedings and post instructions for public access on the Court’s website.” While the grand jury empaneled on September 25, 2019 will convene as scheduled on May 6, all other grand jury proceedings scheduled through May 29 are vacated.
