UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE Northern District of Illinois − CM/ECF LIVE, Ver 6.3.3

Eastern Division

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Plaintiff,

v. Case No.: 1:20−cr−00299

Honorable Robert M. Dow Jr.

Hardy Lee Browner

Defendant.

NOTIFICATION OF DOCKET ENTRY

This docket entry was made by the Clerk on Friday, August 14, 2020:

 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert M. Dow, Jr. as to Hardy Lee

Browner: Defense counsel's oral motion to waive her client's appearance for today's

hearing is granted. Telephone conference held and continued to 10/15/2020 at 9:45 a.m.

Joint status report is due 8/9/2020. Defense counsel's oral motion for leave to file pre−trial

filings under seal is granted without objection. Without objection, time is excluded

through 10/15/2020 under the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. §3161(h)(7)(A) based on the

Court's finding that the ends of justice served by the exclusion of time outweigh the

interests of the parties and the public in a speedy trial given the need to protect the health

and safety of defendants, defense counsel, prosecutors, court staff, and the public by

reducing the number of in−person hearings to the greatest extent possible, as well as for

review of discovery materials and consideration of pre−trial motions. Due to the

COVID−19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of everyone, and consistent with the

guidance of the CDC, our state and local authorities, and the General Orders entered in

this District, we are asking that counsel and parties consider whether the Defendant's

presence is necessary for all hearings in criminal cases, whether in−person or by video or

telephone conference. Where counsel and their clients feel that the Defendant's presence is

necessary, we will do our best to accommodate the desire to be present, including by

resetting the hearing date if necessary if the US Marshals Service cannot accommodate all

of the requests on any given day. However, please keep in mind that under Federal Rule

of Criminal Procedure 43(a), the Defendant's presence is not legally required for routine

status hearings (or for any hearings other than initial appearances, arraignments,

evidentiary hearings, trials, and sentencings). When filing your status report that is due

three business days before each and every status hearing, please note whether you agree to

waive the Defendant's appearance in the status report. We all look forward to a time when

we can resume our District's normal practice of frequently seeing counsel and litigants in

person. At present, however, that is not possible and we appreciate everyone's

consideration of the circumstances and attention to the foregoing guidance and request for

periodic status reports. Mailed notice (cdh, )

Case: 1:20-cr-00299 Document #: 30 Filed: 08/14/20 Page 1 of 2 PageID #:104
ATTENTION: This notice is being sent pursuant to Rule 77(d) of the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure or Rule 49(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. It was

generated by CM/ECF, the automated docketing system used to maintain the civil and

criminal dockets of this District. If a minute order or other document is enclosed, please

refer to it for additional information.

For scheduled events, motion practices, recent opinions and other information, visit our

web site at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov.

Case: 1:20-cr-00299 Document #: 30 Filed: 08/14/20 Page 2 of 2 PageID #:105