The Court has canceled in person oral arguments scheduled for June 1-4, 2020. The Clerk’s Office will advise counsel in the pending cases of how their case will be handled. The Court approved the use of video and/or audio conferences in General Order 3 COVID-19. Limited public access to live audio will be available in both instances. The court calendars will be updated accordingly and will continue to be revised as necessary - http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/clerk/calendar/int-cal.htm.
The court has extended for an additional 30 days the deadline for pleadings due from incarcerated pro se litigants. See General Order 4 COVID-19 issued 05/05/2020. This order does not extend the time to file a notice of appeal or a petition for review.
Deadlines for attorneys and non-incarcerated pro se filers remain in effect, however, extensions with justification may be requested from the Clerk's Office following normal procedures and rules.
The Court previously suspended until further notice the requirement to file paper copies of pleadings and documents, although the Clerk may direct parties to provide paper copies of filings on a case-by-case basis, and at a future date, parties or counsel may be directed to provide paper copies of earlier filings.
The court encourages pro se filers to email filings to the court. Simply save the pleading as a PDF document and email it to: pro_se@ca5.uscourts.gov
The court also encourages non incarcerated pro se litigants to ask for email notice of case activity. See instructions at http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/docs/default-source/forms/pro-se-filer-instructions. If a pro se only desires electronic notice, bypass screens requesting credit card information. Only provide the credit card information to access other documents on PACER.
Due to the current COVID-19 precautions, the Court prefers electronic correspondence from all parties, however, if paper filings are a party’s only option, a Drop Box has been installed outside the Clerk’s Office at 600 S. Maestri Place to accept those filings. The box will be checked daily on weekdays and all documents date stamped accordingly.