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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

IN RE: COURT OPERATIONS Case No. 4:95mc40111

UNDER THE EXIGENT 

CIRCUMSTANCES 

CREATED BY COVID-19

__________________________________________/

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently warned of the 

evolving threat represented by the outbreak and spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) 

in the United States. The World Health Organization labelled COVID-19 a global 

pandemic and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a public health emergency 

throughout the state. According to these and other public health experts, social 

distancing measures are the most effective way to combat the rapid spread of 

COVID-19 and prevent illness. 

In consideration of the serious health crisis facing the nation, Administrative 

Order 345, dated March 23, 2020, was entered in response to the national and 

statewide public health emergency created by the rapid spread of COVID-19, and, 

among other directives, ordered the cancellation of all grand jury proceedings for 

March 2020. See N.D. Fla. Case No. 4:95-mc-40111, ECF Doc. 345. 
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Given the continuing significant public health concerns presented by the 

COVID-19 pandemic and the current declaration of a national and statewide public 

health emergency, the expected duration of which is currently unknown, it is 

necessary to extend the cancellation of grand jury proceedings to include all grand 

jury proceedings scheduled between April 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020 in the 

Northern District of Florida. Although these grand juries will not be in session 

between April 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, they remain empaneled. Further grand 

jury proceeding cancellations beyond April 30, 2020 may also be required. 

For the reasons stated above and those set forth in Administrative Order 345, 

which are incorporated herein, the Court finds that the ends-of-justice are served by 

suspending the 30-day statutory speedy trial time period set forth in 18 U.S.C. 

§ 3161(b), resetting the 30-day period to begin anew on the date this Court permits 

grand juries in the Northern District of Florida to resume meeting, and excluding the 

period of time between the date on which a Defendant is arrested and the date on 

which this Court first permits grand juries in the Northern District of Florida to 

resume meeting, for all Speedy Trial Act purposes. 
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This action is necessary to avoid a miscarriage of justice and also to avoid 

unnecessary risk to grand jurors, the Defendant, witnesses, counsel, Court staff, and 

the public. Good cause exists for a finding of excludable time under the Speedy 

Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7), because the ends of justice in granting such 

suspensions and continuances outweigh the best interest of the public and the 

defendant in a speedy indictment and speedy trial. This action is not based on 

congestion of the Court’s calendar, lack of diligent preparation on the part of the 

attorney(s) for the government, or failure on the part of the attorney(s) for the 

government to obtain available witnesses.

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:

1. All grand jury proceedings in the Northern District of Florida are 

cancelled from April 1, 2020 through April 30, 2020. 

2. While the rule already provides for an exception, the 30-day clock set 

forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3161(b) is suspended until 30 days after the date 

on which this Court permits grand jury proceedings in the Northern 

District of Florida to resume meeting, based on the Court’s 
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assessment of the public health concerns raised by COVID-19 and as 

communicated through a new Administrative Order.

3. The time period between the date of a Defendant’s arrest and the date 

on which this Court first permits grand juries in the Northern District 

of Florida to resume meeting is hereby excluded for all Speedy Trial 

Act purposes, including but not limited to, the 30-day time period 

under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(b) in which an information or indictment 

must be filed and the 90-day time period under 18 U.S.C. § 3164(b) 

for beginning trial for a defendant who is detained solely because the 

defendant is awaiting trial, all under 18 U.S.C. §§ 3161(h)(7)(A) and 

(h)(7)(B).

4. To be clear, nothing in this Order precludes a finding that other 

provisions of the Speedy Trial Act dictate that additional time periods 

are excluded from the period within which an indictment or 

information must be filed or a trial must commence. Moreover, the 

same provisions and/or other provisions of the Speedy Trial Act may 

in the future authorize the exclusion of additional time periods from 
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the period within which indictment or information must be filed or a 

trial must commence.

DONE AND ORDERED this 1st day of April, 2020.

s/_Mark E. Walker________ __ _______

Chief United States District Judge