Eastern District
In the Eastern District of New York, jury trials and grand jury selections are suspended through March 1, 2021. All civil hearings will be conducted remotely. All criminal hearings, conferences, sentencings and change of plea hearings will be conducted remotely through March 1, unless the defendant declines to waive the right to be physically present and the court concludes the matter cannot be postponed in accordance with the CARES Act.
The district is allowing video or telephone conferencing for several types of proceedings, including detention hearings, initial appearances and arraignments. Courthouse access is prohibited for those who have traveled internationally or to certain states in the past two weeks; those who have symptoms of COVID-19; those who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past two weeks; those who have been advised to quarantine; those who live with someone who has had symptoms and those who have been released from a detention facility in the past two weeks, unless they are reporting to be fitted with a location monitoring device.
Northern District
In the Northern District of New York, all civil and criminal jury selections and trials — including grand juries — scheduled to begin through March 8, 2021, are postponed unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge. Other criminal matters before magistrate judges will continue to take place as usual. All mass public gatherings, including naturalization ceremonies, are suspended. Those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus are prohibited from entering any courthouse. Face masks are required in courthouses.
Western District
In the Western District of New York, All civil and criminal jury trials are postponed until April 23, 2021. All in-person civil and criminal appearances are postponed through the same date unless deemed essential by the presiding or referral judge. Certain grand jury proceedings may take place remotely. The office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may perform administrative naturalization ceremonies until further notice. Those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus are prohibited from entering any courthouse. Anyone not wearing a mask will also be prohibited.