Through its Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Plan, the Court's 2022 CJA Application Process is open. Dependent on experience, attorneys not currently on the CJA Panel, who wish to serve as appointed contract counsel on criminal cases, may apply to be members of the CJA Panel or the CJA Mentee Panel. The application and more information on CJA related processes is located on the Court's website at https://www.moed.uscourts.gov/criminal-justice-act-cja.

The Eagleton Courthouse has a new temporary Building Entry Order requiring masks in common areas. The temporary Order, put into effect based on local high transmission rates, is effective Wednesday, June 8 and lasts through Friday, June 17 at which point the prior mask-optional Order will again be in effect. Each Agency may continue to set masking rules in its own space.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri currently has two Judicial vacancies posted, one to succeed U.S. Magistrate Judge Nannette A. Baker and the other to succeed U.S. Magistrate Judge David D. Noce. Judge Baker is retiring in February 2023 and Judge Noce is retiring in May 2023. Applications will be received until May 2, 2022, and I encourage you to apply.

If you are a renter having trouble paying your rent or a landlord who has lost rental income due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, help may be available. Through funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, there are a wide variety of state and local programs that offer assistance—including financial assistance—to those who are struggling to make ends meet.

The Saint Louis Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), has announced it will provide grant funding to organizations that advance or promote the rule of law. The Foundation will consider grant applications until March 31, 2021, for up to $5,000 for innovative projects that address needs in the metropolitan St. Louis region.

The Supreme Court of Missouri's Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness ("CREF") is seeking an independent contractor to serve as an Executive Director. CREF is responsible for promoting racial and ethnic fairness in the Missouri judicial and legal systems.

The St. Louis County courts are holding a series of town hall meetings over the next few weeks.

The Supreme Court of Missouri is seeking a Director of Court En Banc Section. Qualified candidates shall submit resumes and at least three professional references via e-mail to courtenbancdirector@courts.mo.gov. Interested parties may refer to the Missouri Courts website (http://www.courts.mo.gov) and clicking on “Careers” in the footer for additional details.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri announces that the previously-proposed amendments to Local Rules 2.01, 2.03, 2.09, 2.11, 2.15, 2.17, 3.03, 4.01, 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05, 12.01, 12.04, 12.06, and 13.02 will take effect on November 1, 2019.

The U.S. District Court has issued a number of local rule changes for public comment.