Federal court plans to weather prolonged shutdown
The Bangor and Portland branches of U.S. District Court plan to continue operating without funds if federal lawmakers do not craft a plan to end a government shutdown by the end of this week.
The Portland Press Herald reported federal court officials had said a prolonged shutdown could push the federal court and offices to start prioritizing caseloads, focusing on criminal cases involving violent crimes and postponing other cases. But Judge John Woodcock Jr., the chief judge for the district of Maine, said on the court’s website that hearings, conferences and trials would continue in all cases, even if money runs out, which would happen Thursday if no deal is reached in Washington.
The paper reported that some civil cases have been postponed in instances where lawyers from the U.S. Attorney’s Office or other federal entities have requested delays because of employee furloughs or cuts, but criminal matters are required to proceed. The paper reported that U.S. Bankruptcy hearings are expected to continue also and employees would be expected to work without pay if the shutdown continues past Thursday.
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