Hon. Geoffrey W. Crawford Chief Judge.
GENERAL ORDER NO. 109
Hon. Geoffrey W. Crawford Chief Judge.
This Order vacates General Order No. 107 issued on March 16, 2022.
In accordance with recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the updated guidance released by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force on February 28, 2022, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the following COVID-19 restrictions and masking requirements based on the CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels will apply to all District of Vermont courthouses as follows:
1. When the CDC COVID-19 Community Level is designated as “high” in the county where a courthouse is located, indoor mask-wearing and social distancing will be required in all public spaces for all courthouse visitors, federal employees and on-site contractors, regardless of vaccination status;
2. When the CDC COVID-19 Community Level is “medium” or “low” in the county where a courthouse is located, masking and social distancing will not be required, with the following exceptions:
a. For all criminal hearings involving incarcerated defendants, masks will still be required in the courtrooms. For the present, video appearance by criminal defendants remains an option;
b. Grand jury proceedings. Masking will still be required for all participants in grand jury proceedings;
c. For all unvaccinated individuals, masks will be required in all public areas of the courthouse and courtrooms.
3. For jury trials, regardless of the CDC COVID-19 Community Level, the presiding judge will make a ruling about the mask requirement for the parties and others attending the trial. The judge will make this decision before the trial as part of a broader discussion about trial preparations and safety precautions with counsel for all parties and other participants;
4. This order applies only to the common or public areas of the buildings, including courtrooms; and
5. Each individual agency will determine the requirements for their own internal agency workspace.
This order shall be effective immediately and will remain in effect until amended or vacated.