REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
REGARDING A JUDICIAL EMERGENCY
IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Submitted to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
· Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3.174(d)(l)
April 2, 2.0 20
On March 17, 2020, Chief District Judge Lan-y A. Burns declared a judicial
emergency in the Southern District of California under 18 U.S.C. § 3174. He
reported that under the emergency declarations of national, state and local
governments, as well as recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control
· and Prevention to convene groups of no more than 10 people, the Court is unable
to obtain an adequate spectrum of trial and grand jurors. The suggested physical
distancing measures required to protect public safety diminishes the availability of
counsel, witnesses, parties, the public, Probation and Pretrial Services, and Court
staff to be present in the courtroom. Chief Judge Burns sought the Ninth Circuit
Judicial Council's approval in declaring an emergency that would extend the time
limits of the Speedy Trial Act (STA) for bringing accused criminal defendants to
trial. This type of request has been approved on three occasions, with Circuit
Judicial Councils approving judicial emergencies under 18 U.S.C. § 3174 (e) since
the STA was enacted.
With the immediate and pending national and local state of emergencies,
Chief Judge Lan-y A. Burns was compelled to declare a judicial emergency under
18 U.S.C. § 3174(e). This judicial emergency period commenced on March 17,
2020, and will end on April 16, 2020. After gathering additional data, the Judicial
Council found no reasonable remedy, thus agreed to declare a judicial emergency
and suspend the STA time limits required by 18 U.S.C. 316l(c) in the District for
one year. The continued judicial emergency will commence on April 17, 2020,
and will conclude on April 17, 2021.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3174(d), the Judicial Council hereby submits to the
Administrative Office of the United States Courts the Southern District of
California's application for a declaration of a judicial emergency and a written
report stating in detail the reasons for granting the application.