ORDER REQUIRING HEARING STATEMENTS IN FUTURE MOTIONS

ROBERT H. CLELAND, District Judge.

The Government has brought the instant action against thirteen defendants, charging them with conspiracy and various drug-related crimes in a ten count indictment. In the court's experience with such cases, when multiple motions are filed by the Government and the defense attorneys, the logistics of arranging a courtroom to accommodate all the parties, as well as the logistics of transporting the incarcerated defendants, prove to be quite burdensome. Additionally, more often than not, defendants do not need, nor desire, to be present in court for oral argument of attorneydriven issues. Thus, given the unique nature of this case, the court will impose a protocol for reducing the costs and administrative burdens of transporting defendants, often against their wishes, to court for motion hearings at which the defendant does not need or wish to be present. Accordingly, henceforth,

IT IS ORDERED that every motion filed by a defendant shall begin with (1) a statement indicating whether a hearing is thought to be mandatory or, if not mandatory, requested and (2) a statement indicating either that defendant waives personal attendance or that defendant wishes to be present should the court conduct a hearing.

Nothing in this order shall be construed to prevent a defendant from appearing in court should he desire. The court seeks only to streamline proceedings in those cases where defendants do not wish to be present.