ORDER
SuspensionofExecutionofBenchWarrantsinCertainMisdemeanorCases
(3/27/2020)
Inlightofthecurrentpublichealthandjudicialemergenciesdeclaredinresponsetothe
COVID‐19pandemic,andrecognizingarrestingapersonwantedonmostmisdemeanorbench
warrantsduringthepublichealthemergencypresentsahealthrisktotheperson,law
enforcement,andothersthatoutweightheinterestofthepublicinthespeedyresolutionof
thesecases;withtheconsentoftheMetropolitanPoliceDepartment(MPD),
1
theUnitedStates
Attorney(USAO)andtheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralfortheDistrictofColumbia(OAG),itis
hereby:
1. ORDERED,thatallmisdemeanorbenchwarrantsissuedincaseswithdesignations
CMD(CriminalMisdemeanor),CTF(CriminalTraffic),andCDC(DistrictofColumbia
Criminal),exceptforbenchwarrantsissuedinmisdemeanorsexoffense(anyage
victim)andindecentexposurecases,areHEREBYSUSPENDED
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;anditis
2. FURTHERORDERED,thatthetemporarysuspensionofabenchwarrantinacase
shallnotlimitapartyfromfilingamotioninthatcaseorsurrenderingonthebench
warrant;anditis
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TheMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentmayadviseitsotherpartnerlawenforcementagencies
ofthisorder.
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Byitsterms,thisOrderdoesnotapplytobenchwarrantsissuedinDomesticViolence(DVM)
caseswhichshallremainineffect.
3. FURTHERORDERED,thatthetemporarysuspensionofabenchwarrantinacase
shallnotlimitthegovernmentfromchargingadefendantwithaviolationoftheBail
ReformAct(BRA)intheappropriatecircumstances;anditis
4. FURTHERORDERED,thatthisOrdershallnotcauseabenchwarranttobequashed
orremovedfromanycase;anditis
5. FURTHERORDERED,thatajudgemay,uponmotionofapartyorsuasponte,
notwithstandingthisOrder,orderthataspecificbenchwarrantbeexecutedand/or
quashed.
6. ThisorderwillremainineffectuntilMay15,2020unlessotherwiseorderedbythe
court.
RobertE.Morin
ChiefJudge
SuperiorCourtfortheDistrictofColumbia