Local Rule 83.6.11: PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

RULE 83.6.11 PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(a) Matters Presumed to Be Public. All matters before the court concerning alleged attorney misconduct and discipline are presumptively public.

(b) Exceptions. The court, on its own motion or on request, may redact or protect the following types of matters and file them under seal.

(1) Victim or Third-Party Privacy. Any matters reasonably necessary to protect the privacy of a victim of attorney misconduct or of any innocent third party.

(2) Privilege. Any matters reasonably necessary to protect information subject to a valid attorney-client or other privilege.

(3) Grand Jury or Criminal Investigation. Any matters reasonably necessary to protect information subject to grand jury secrecy or to protect an ongoing criminal investigation.

(4) Personal Privacy. Any matters of a highly personal or private nature; provided, however, that if the personal or private matter was the basis, at least in part, of a disciplinary action, a decision not to take disciplinary action, or a decision to mitigate discipline, public disclosure is required in sufficient detail to permit an informed public understanding of the court's decision.

(5) Exceptional Circumstances. Any other matters that, due to exceptional circumstances presented in the case, should not be disclosed in the interests of justice.

Any such redaction or protective order shall be in writing or made on the record and shall state the reasons for the order. The court, in fashioning such an order, shall give due regard to the need to protect the public from further attorney misconduct and to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the court.

Effective January 1, 2015.