`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`GENERAL ORDER NO. 20-09
`(Supersedes Amended General Order
`No. 20-08)
`
`))))))))))
`
`IN RE:
`CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC
`EMERGENCY
`ORDER CONCERNING PHASED
`REOPENING OF THE COURT
`
`WHEREAS, the number of people infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, also
`known as “Coronavirus” that causes COVID-19, continues to grow, with thousands of
`confirmed cases and deaths in the Central District of California; and
`WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public
`health authorities have advised the taking of precautions to reduce the possibility of
`exposure to the virus and slow the spread of the disease, including implementing
`physical distancing and reducing the size of in-person gatherings;
`Upon a majority vote, in order to protect public health, and in order to reduce
`the size of public gatherings and reduce unnecessary travel, the Court orders as
`follows:
`1.
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`The Plan for Phased Resumption of Operations (“Reopening Plan”) is
`adopted. The Reopening Plan has three distinct Phases, as follows:
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`Medtronic Exhibit 1032
`Medtronic Corevalve v. Colibri Heart Valve
`IPR2020-01454
`Page 00001
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`a.
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`b.
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`Phase 1 (return of certain staff to the courthouses to prepare for
`limited in-court hearings), which has ended;
`Phase 2 (reopening courthouses for limited in-court hearings),
`which began on June 22, 2020; and
`Phase 3 (resumption of jury trials), which will be implemented at a
`date to be determined.
`The Court has adopted gating criteria that will be used to inform when the
`Court transitions to Phase 3. The gating criteria is designed to determine
`local COVID-19 exposure risks based on 14-day trends of facility
`exposure, community spread, and community restrictions.
`Judges will determine when their chambers staff will return to work at the
`courthouses during each Phase of reopening. The District Court
`Executive/Clerk of Court will determine when and which Clerk’s Office
`and Probation and Pretrial Services Office staff will return to the
`courthouses during each Phase of reopening.
`Due to the recent surge in the Coronavirus cases in the Central District of
`California, until further notice, and except as set forth below, the
`Courthouses will be closed to the public.
`Until further notice, no jury trials will be conducted in civil cases. All
`appearances in civil cases will be by telephone or video conference.
`However, individual judges, at their discretion, may offer bench trials by
`video conference in lieu of postponement.
`Until further notice, no jury trials will be conducted in criminal cases.
`Hearings in any criminal matter may proceed in court when the defendant
`does not consent to appear by telephone or video conference. Members of
`the public will have access to such proceedings with a limit of 10 people
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`c.
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`IPR2020-01454 Page 00002
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`present in the courtroom or in an overflow courtroom at one time at the
`discretion of the assigned judge.
`a.
`The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that “in
`the coming months, most of the U.S. population will be exposed to this
`virus.” The COVID-19 rates of infection, hospitalizations and deaths
`have significantly increased in the Central District of California in the last
`thirty days such that holding jury trials substantially increases the chances
`of transmitting the Coronavirus. The Court concludes that conducting
`jury trials would also likely place prospective jurors, defendant, attorneys,
`and court personnel at unnecessary risk. Therefore, the Court finds that
`suspending criminal jury trials in the Central District of California
`because of the increase in reported COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations,
`and deaths serves the ends of justice and outweigh the interests of the
`public and the defendants in a speedy trial.
`Criminal bench duty for all divisions will continue to take place in the
`Roybal Courthouse in Los Angeles and the Santa Ana Courthouse, by
`video or telephonic conference with the defendant’s consent and in-court
`absent consent.
`The Bankruptcy Court will issue separate guidance for reconstituting its
`operations.
`The naturalization ceremonies scheduled through the end of September
`2020 are cancelled. The Court delegates authority to the United States
`Citizenship and Immigration Service to administer the oath of citizenship
`to applicants scheduled to be naturalized at those ceremonies.
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`7.
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`8.
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`9.
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`IPR2020-01454 Page 00003
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`IT IS SO ORDERED.
`
`________________________________________
`CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
`
`Date of Approval by the Court:
`
`August 6, 2020
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`Date of Filing by the Clerk:
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`August 6, 2020
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`IPR2020-01454 Page 00004
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