filed in the district court or bankruptcy court of the 
district. 
‘‘(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), 
the authority conferred by this section extends to all 
laws and rules affecting criminal and juvenile pro-
ceedings (including, prearrest, post-arrest, pretrial, 
trial, and post-trial procedures), civil actions, bank-
ruptcy proceedings, and the time for filing and per-
fecting an appeal. 
‘‘(C) The authority conferred by this section 
does not include the authority to extend—
‘‘(i) any statute of limitation for a criminal 
action; or 
‘‘(ii) any statute of limitation for a civil ac-
tion, if—
‘‘(I) the claim arises under the laws of 
a State; and 
‘‘(II) extending the limitations period 
would be inconsistent with the governing 
State law. 
‘‘(3) UNAVAILABILITY
OF
CHIEF
JUDGE.—If 
the chief judge of the district is unavailable, the au-
thority conferred by this section may be exercised by 
the district judge in regular active service who is 
senior in commission or, if no such judge is avail-
able, by the chief judge of the circuit that includes 
the district. 
‘‘(4) HABEAS CORPUS UNAFFECTED.—Nothing 
in this section shall be construed to authorize sus-
pension of the writ of habeas corpus. 
‘‘(b) CRIMINAL CASES.—In exercising the authority 
under subsection (a) for criminal cases, the court shall 
consider the ability of the United States Government to 
investigate, litigate, and process defendants during and 
after the emergency situation, as well as the ability of 
criminal defendants as a class to prepare their defenses. 
‘‘(c) TOLLING IN COURTS OF APPEALS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the event of a natural 
disaster or other emergency situation requiring the 
closure of courts or rendering it impracticable for 
the United States Government or a class of litigants 
to comply with deadlines imposed by any federal or 
States law or rule that applies in the courts of the 
United States, the chief judge of a court of appeals 
that has been affected or that includes a district 
court so affected may exercise emergency authority 
in accordance with this section. 
‘‘(2) SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.—The chief judge 
may enter such order or orders as may be appro-
priate to delay, toll, or otherwise grant relief from
the time deadlines imposed by otherwise applicable 
laws or rules for such period as may be appropriate 
for any class of cases pending in the court of ap-
peals. 
‘‘(3) UNAVAILABILITY
OF
CHIEF
JUDGE.—If 
the chief judge of the circuit is unavailable, the au-
thority conferred by this section may be exercised by 
the circuit judge in regular active service who is sen-
ior in commission. 
‘‘(4) HABEAS CORPUS UNAFFECTED.—Nothing 
in this section shall be construed to authorize sus-
pension of the writ of habeas corpus. 
‘‘(d) ISSUANCE OF ORDERS.—The Attorney General 
or the Attorney General’s designee may request issuance 
of an order under this section, or the chief judge of a dis-
trict or of a circuit may act on his or her own motion. 
‘‘(e) DURATION
OF ORDERS.—An order entered 
under this section may not toll or extend a time deadline 
for a period of more than 14 days, except that, if the chief 
judge (whether of a district or of a circuit) determines that 
an emergency situation requires additional extensions of 
the period during which deadlines are tolled or extended, 
the chief judge may, with the consent of the judicial coun-
cil of the circuit, enter additional orders under this section 
in order to further toll or extend such time deadline.