Rule 15-3 Finding of Harm

To keep court records private or limit who can see them, a judge must find a specific reason to do so. That reason must be that keeping the information private protects someone from harm that is more important than the public's right to know.

Courts in Georgia generally keep their records open to the public. Sealing records or restricting access is the exception, not the rule. A judge will not limit access just because someone finds the information embarrassing or inconvenient.