Local Rule LR 3-6: Sealed Cases

LR 3-6 Sealed Cases (See LR 26-4)

(a) New Action At the time a complaint is presented for filing, any party seeking to file the case under seal must either:

File a motion and supporting memorandum requesting the Court to seal the case. Pending the Court's ruling on the motion to seal, the case, complaint, and motion will be withheld from the public record; or Provide a citation to the authorizing legislation. Pending verification of the legislation, the case, complaint, and motion will be sealed and withheld from the public record.

(b) Pending Action A party seeking to place a pending case under seal must file an appropriate motion requesting the Court to seal the case along with all associated electronic records. (See LR 5-4(a).)

(c) Proposed Order to Seal a Case A proposed order to seal a case must include language that identifies the persons authorized to review, copy, photograph, and/or inspect the sealed materials.

(d) Court's Responsibility After reviewing the motion and supporting materials, the Court will either:

Grant the motion and direct the clerk to file the case and all subsequent papers and records under seal and to limit future access to the sealed case to those individuals included in the order; or Deny the motion and direct the clerk to file the case in the public records of the Court.

(e) Access to Sealed Cases Subsequent access to the sealed case will be regulated by controlling statute or court order.