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    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

    Northern District of Texas

    Barbara M.G. Lynn, Chief Judge
    Karen Mitchell, Clerk of Court

    Special Order 13: Court Orders and Updates During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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    UPDATE: The district clerk’s office will not accept criminal debt payments (fines or restitution) in person until June 1, 2020. Defendants may mail payments to the district clerk’s office. However, a defendant will not be deemed delinquent for failure to make a criminal debt payment between March 16, 2020, and June 1, 2020.

    Order # Date Filed Summarized Content

    Sixth Amended
    Special Order No. 13-9 
     

    		 Aug. 25, 2021

    Supplemental order to Special Order Nos. 13-5 and 13-6 regarding authorization to use video teleconferencing for criminal proceedings.

    Fifth Amended Special Order No. 13-9, signed 5/28/21
    Fourth Amended Special Order No. 13-9, signed 3/5/21
    Third Amended Special Order No. 13-9, signed 12/11/20
    Second Amended Special Order 13-9, signed 9/15/20
    Amended Special Order 13-9, signed 6/24/20
    Special Order 13-9, signed 3/29/20

    Second Amended
    Special Order No. 13-16

    		 July 29, 2021

    Supplemental order to Special Order No. 13-16. Requirements for entry to the Abilene, Lubbock, and San Angelo Divisions.

    Second Amended 
    Special Order No. 13-15

    		 July 29, 2021

    Supplemental order to Special Order No. 13-15. Requirements for entry to the J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Mary Lou Robinson Courthouse.

    Second Amended
    Special Order No. 13-12

    		 July 28, 2021

    Supplemental order to Special Order No. 13-12. Requirements for entry to the Earl Cabell Federal Building and United States Courthouse at Dallas.
         
    Special Order No. 13-19 Dec. 15, 2020 Amendment to Mandatory Quarantine Period
    Special Order No. 13-18 Nov. 18, 2020 Order continuing all civil and criminal trials scheduled to be held between 11/18/20 and 12/31/20 (except 4:19-cv-425) to a date after 1/1/21.
    Amended
    Special Order No. 13-14 
    (VACATED)    		 Sept. 10, 2020

    Supplemental order to Special Order No. 13-14 regarding requirements for entry to the Fort Worth courthouse during national pandemic emergency.
    Second Amended
    Special Order No. 13-5    		 July 8, 2020

    Supplemental order to Special Order No. 13-5 regarding continuation of trial settings to July 31, 2020

    Amended Special Order 13-5, signed on 6/19/2020.
    Amended
    Special Order No. 13-8    		 May 29, 2020

    Supplemental order to Special Order Nos. 13-8 and 13-11. Courthouse access restrictions will remain in effect until further order of the Court.
    Special Order No. 13-17
    (VACATED)    		 May 22, 2020

    Order regarding requirements for entry to the Wichita Falls courthouse during national pandemic emergency.
    Special Order No. 13-11 April 22, 2020

    Order extending all continuances under Special Order Nos. 13-5 and 13-6 through May 31, 2020, except as otherwise specified in this Order.

    Special Order No. 13-10

    		 April 02, 2020 Order to extend time to self-report to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

    Special Order No. 13-7

    		 March 19, 2020 Supplemental order to Special Order Nos. 13-5 and 13-6 regarding procedures specific to the Northern District of Texas's Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, and San Angelo divisions.

    Court offices are open to serve the public; however, please be advised that you should not come into a courthouse facility in the Northern District of Texas if you: (1) are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, shortness of breath, have a fever, or are coughing or sneezing; or (2) have been asked to self-quarantine by any hospital or health agency or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 10 days. If you need assistance from the court and fall into one of these categories, please contact the court by either calling the district clerk’s office at one of the numbers listed in the online directory or emailing the clerk’s office during business hours through the court's website. If you are scheduled to appear before a judge and fall into one of these categories, immediately contact the assigned judge’s chambers for further instructions.