As a result of the increasing community spread of COVID-19 variants, to include the more transmissible Omicron variant, and after consultation with public health officials, the Court adopts a temporary updated mask policy requiring all persons entering our Courthouses and Court facilities to wear an N95 or KN95 mask (which will be provided, if necessary).

As established by General Order 2021-11, and as modified by General Order 2021-15, ALL individuals, regardless of vaccination status, that appear in person in the Courthouses/facilities in this District, to include employees, litigants, attorneys, jurors, stakeholders from other agencies, contractors, vendors, and members of the public, are required to:

(1) Wear an N95 or KN95 mask that covers their nose and mouthcontinuously in all indoor public areas of our Courthouses/facilities unless it is medically unsafe for them to do so and they obtain permission from the Chief Judge or Senior Active Judge. Individuals without access to an N95 or KN95 mask will be provided a KN95 mask at the building entrance. Inside of each courtroom, the presiding judge may permit temporary removal of masks for the purposes of facilitating a hearing or otherwise promoting the functioning and effective operation of the Court, with efforts made to ensure that individuals permitted to remove their mask generally stay at least six feet apart from other individuals. Minors unable to fit into an adult-sized Court-provided KN95 mask are encouraged to bring their own properly fitting KN95 or similar mask. However, minors without access to a properly fitting KN95 or similar mask will be allowed to enter our Courthouses/facilities wearing a surgical mask, or a multi-layer cloth mask, or preferably, a surgical mask covered by a cloth mask.

(2) Maintain six feet of distance from all individuals from outside theirhousehold whenever possible.

(3) Stay home if you are sick.

Any visitor seeking entry to our Courthouses/facilities that does not comply with these requirements may be denied entry by security staff and will be asked to contact the office/chambers to be visited and determine whether alternate arrangements can be made to accomplish the business needs of the visitor without entry to the Courthouse.

For more detailed information, please see General Order 2021-15 In re: UPDATED MASK POLICY