U.S. District Court updates filing policy and COVID-19 order Tuesday, January 18, 2022

The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota has updated its administrative policy governing electronic filing and service and its COVID-19 administrative order.

Section XI, Exceptions to Electronic Filing, of the policy governing electronic filing and service, now includes a new subsection C, stating that documents related to grand jury matters must be filed in paper.  The former subsection C, regarding leave of court to file paper documents, has been re-lettered to subsection D.  This change memorializes our long-standing practice and custom of handling these matters in paper.  The changes can be found on page 5. 

Access the updated policy at: https://www.ndd.uscourts.gov/ecf/cm_ecf_policy.pdf

The COVID-19 administrative order reinstates the CARES Act provisions authorizing videoconference and teleconference for hearings.

The Court will continue in-person hearings, but may convert hearings to video or teleconferencing as circumstances warrant and as directed by judicial officers.

Access the updated order at: https://www.ndd.uscourts.gov/covid/2022_01_18.pdf