Court Opinion

ID: 7327126
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 22:00:38.641189+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:20:11.723169
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                              FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

____________________________________
                                    )
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA            )
                                    )
       v.                           )                  Criminal No. 21-0598 (PLF)
                                    )
TERENCE SUTTON                      )
   and                              )
ANDREW ZABAVSKY,                    )
                                    )
            Defendants.             )
____________________________________)

                                              ORDER

               On June 12, 2022, the Court issued an amended scheduling order setting forth the

schedule for trial and pretrial proceedings, which included July 26, 2022 as the date for oral

argument on Rule 12 motions. See Amended Scheduling Order [Dkt. No. 179] at 3. On

July 22, 2022, the Court directed the parties to meet and confer and file a joint status report

addressing how much time should be allotted for argument on each of the three separate motions,

as well as how much time should be allotted to the movant for argument on each motion, to the

party opposing the motion, and to the movant for rebuttal. See Minute Order (July 22, 2022). 1

The parties filed a joint status report on July 25, 2022, which stated that “the parties are unable to

agree upon a proposed schedule” and provided the Court with separate proposals for time

allotments. See Joint Status Report [Dkt. No. 207] at 1-2.

               The Court has considered the parties’ separate proposals and has devised a

schedule it deems reasonable. The Court further informs the parties that oral argument will now

       1
             The Court also rescheduled the oral argument time to July 26, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.
See Minute Order (July 22, 2022).
be held in-person in Courtroom 29 in the William B. Bryant Annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman

Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. But for those who wish

to participate virtually, Zoom videoconference information will be made available upon request

by the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Tanya Johnson, who can be contacted at

Tanya_Johnson@dcd.uscourts.gov. Accordingly, it is hereby

               ORDERED that oral argument scheduled for July 26, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. will be

held in Courtroom 29 in the William B. Bryant Annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse at

333 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001; it is

               FURTHER ORDERED that the following additional procedures and restrictions

will govern the proceeding, consistent with the practices outlined in Appendices 7 and 8 of the

Continuity of Operations Plan During the COVID-19 Pandemic. See Continuity of Operations

Plan During the COVID-19 Pandemic (July 15, 2020),

https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/coronavirus-covid-19-response-information-and-announcements;

id., Appendix 7 (updated Oct. 27, 2020); id., Appendix 8 (updated Mar. 2, 2022).

               1.      All persons who attend oral argument must wear face masks covering their

mouth and nose throughout the entire proceeding, except as directed by the Court. The Court

may provide participants with a clear protective facial mask. See Appendix 7 ¶ 4; Appendix 8

¶ 2(c)(iii). Participants are reminded that, pursuant to Standing Order No. 21-45, “[a]ll

individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a face mask, which must

completely cover the nose and mouth, at all times while in the public and non-public areas” of

the courthouse. In Re: Reinstatement of Mask Requirement for All Individuals in Public and

Non-Public Areas of Courthouse, Standing Order No. 21-45 (BAH) (July 30, 2021), at 1-2,

available at: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/coronavirus-covid-19-response-information-and-

                                                 2
announcements; see also Mask Requirements in the Public Areas of the Courthouse and

Courtrooms (Apr. 4, 2022), https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/coronavirus-covid-19-response-

information-and-announcements.

               2.      The number of individuals in the courtroom will be limited to the

maximum necessary. Each party may have a maximum of three individuals seated at counsel

table. A maximum of fifteen individuals, including any observers, may be seated on each side of

the gallery in a physically distanced manner.

               3.      Attorneys shall speak using the microphones at the podiums beside their

respective counsel table, and they shall not move away from their assigned places at counsel

table unless the Court authorizes them to do so. Attorneys may remove their masks while

speaking.

               4.      Any individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, is experiencing

symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or learns of exposure to an individual who has tested

positive for COVID-19, should not come to the courthouse and should contact the courtroom

deputy clerk for further instructions. If during the proceeding any participant experiences

symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or learns of exposure to an individual who has tested

positive for COVID-19, that person should notify the courtroom deputy clerk immediately. See

Appendix 7 ¶ 6; Appendix 8 ¶ 2(c)(i)-(ii); and it is

               FURTHER ORDERED that oral argument will proceed pursuant to the following

schedule:

                                                 3
 Motion(s)                Mr.      Mr.          The        Mr.          Mr.
                          Sutton   Zabavsky     Government Sutton’s     Zabavsky’s
                                                           Rebuttal     Rebuttal
 Mr. Sutton’s and Mr.     20 min   15 min       25 min     10 min       5 min
 Zabavsky’s Arguments
 re: Failure to State a
 Claim [Total = 75 min]

                                   Recess – 15 min

 Mr. Sutton’s and Mr.     20 min   10 min       25 min     10 min       5 min
 Zabavsky’s Arguments
 re: Prosecutorial
 Misconduct Before the
 Grand Jury
 [Total = 70 min]

 Mr. Zabavsky’s           N/A      10 min       10 min     N/A          5 min
 Argument re: Selective
 Prosecution
 [Total = 25 min]

              SO ORDERED.

                                             /s/
                                      _______________________________
                                      PAUL L. FRIEDMAN
                                      United States District Judge

DATE: July 25, 2022

                                            4