Redaction of Personal Identifiers

(a) Parties to any litigation shall refrain from including, or shall partially redact where inclusion is necessary, the following personal data identifiers from all pleadings, documents or other papers filed with the Court, including exhibits to pleadings, documents or other papers, whether filed electronically or by paper, unless otherwise ordered by the Court: 1. Social Security Numbers. If an individual's social security number must be included in a pleading, only the last four digits of that number should be used. 2.

Names of Minor Children. If the involvement of a minor child must be mentioned, only the initials of that child should be used. 3. Dates of Birth.

If an individual's date of birth must be included in a pleading, only the year should be used. 4. Financial Account Numbers. If financial account numbers are relevant, only the last four digits of these numbers should be used.

5. Addresses of Individuals. If the address of an individual is relevant, only the city and state should be used. (b) Any party wishing to file a document containing the personal data identifiers listed above may do so using one of two methods: 1.

File a reference list under seal. The reference list shall contain the complete personal data identifier(s) and the redacted identifier(s) used in its (their) place in the filing. All references in the case to the redacted identifiers included in the reference list will be construed to refer to the corresponding complete personal data identifier. The reference list must be filed under seal, and may be amended as of right.

7 2. File an unredacted version of the document under seal. (c) A party filing an unredacted document under seal that contains personal data identifiers shall simultaneously file a redacted copy of the document for the public file. The unredacted version of the document or the reference list shall be retained by the Court as part of the record.

(d) The responsibility for redacting these personal identifiers rests solely with counsel and the parties who should not include sensitive information in any document filed with the Court unless the information is necessary and relevant to the case. The Clerk of the Court will not review each pleading for compliance with this order. Counsel are urged to notify all clients of this order and the provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002 and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 as amended, so that an informed decision about the inclusion of information in pleadings, documents or other papers may be made. It is the sole responsibility of counsel and the parties to insure that all pleadings, documents or other papers filed with Court comply with this order concerning the redaction of personal data identifiers.

Back To Top Of Table Of Rules Filing of Documents By Electronic and Other Means Local Rule 5.3 (a) Pleadings and documents are electronically filed, filed conventionally at the counter in the Clerk’s office or received in hand, by mail or otherwise. In very limited circumstances, they may be filed by facsimile, as set forth below. (b) Pleadings and documents may be filed, signed and verified by electronic means to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Court’s General Order(s)and the Civil and Criminal Administrative Procedures regarding Electronic Case Filing. (c) Pleadings and documents may be filed over the counter in the Clerk's Office in the Federal Courthouse at One Church Street in Montgomery, by mail or other delivery between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. After 5:00 p.m., and before 8:00 a.m., pleadings can be accepted at the drop box, located in front of the Federal Courthouse building on Church Street.

Pleadings and documents are accepted by mail, but they will not be time/date-stamped until the documents are received by the Clerk's Office. (d) Filing of papers by facsimile is allowed subject to the following restrictions: (1) telephonic authorization must be obtained from the Clerk of the Court or, in his/her absence, from his/her Chief Deputy, before any paper is transmitted by facsimile for filing. 8 (2) the Clerk or his/her Chief Deputy shall approve the transmission only in an emergency situation. (3) originals of the transmissions must follow by overnight mail.

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