Local Rule LR26.2: Sealing of Court Records
E.D. Tenn. — Civil rule
LR26.2 Sealing of Court Records
(a) Public Record. Except as otherwise provided by statute, rule, or order, all pleadings and other papers of any nature filed with the Court ("Court Records") shall become a part of the public record of this Court.
(b) Procedure. Court Records or portions thereof shall not be placed under seal unless and except to the extent that the person seeking the sealing thereof shall have first obtained, for good cause shown, an order of the Court specifying those Court Records, categories of Court Records, or portions thereof which shall be placed under seal; provided however, documents that are the subject of a motion to seal may be temporarily placed in the court record under seal pending a ruling on the motion. Unless the Court orders otherwise, the parties shall file with the Court redacted versions of any Court Record where only a portion thereof is to be placed under seal.
(c) Criminal Matters. The United States Attorney, through his or her assistants, shall present to the Court a proposed order in connection with any indictment, complaint or bill of information that the United States Attorney wishes to file under seal. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, indictments, complaints, and bills of information filed under seal shall be unsealed after all defendants have made an appearance before the Court.