Federal Courts in Del Rio Cancelled for 14 Days Due to COVID-19 Cases at Val Verde Correctional Facility-GEO
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
United States District Court Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, issued a letter to all federal court personnel and attorneys notifying them that “As of today, July 31, 2020, the federal courts of the Del Rio Division and all related court matters are cancelled for no less than 14 days.”
Judge Moses added in her letter that “Cases of the COVID virus have appeared at GEO Val Verde among staff and some prisoners. It is my intention that this ‘hard’ quarantine of 14 days will purge the virus from the facilities making it safe and feasible to return to the current levels of operations.”
During the shutdown, “all initial proceedings shall occur via video. If any defendant seeks an in person hearing, it will be continued until after the 14-day quarantine. There will be no in-person proceedings at the courthouse for these days. Prisoners will not be moved from GEO Val Verde to the federal courthouse for ANY reason during the lockdown,” said Judge Moses.
“Additionally, all staff and attorneys who visit the jail facilities shall be prohibited from doing so until [further] notification by this Court. There will be NO in person jail visits for any reason for any case or matter before the federal courts of the Del Rio Division,” added Judge Moses.
“Civil matters may be scheduled via Zoom or other technologies. Agents will be allowed to take persons newly arrested to the secure booking area as long as the protocols in place are observed,” said Judge Moses.
Although the federal courts will be closed for a minimum of 14 days in Del Rio, the United States criminal justice system will continue to remain open and carrying out its full duties and responsibilities according to federal law.
