Sealed Documents

(a) Permitted or Required by Statute or Rule. A party may file under seal any document that a statute or rule requires or permits to be so filed. The term “document,” as used in this rule, means any pleading, motion, other paper, or physical item that the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure permit or require to be filed. (b) Motions to File Documents Under Seal.

If no statute or rule requires or permits a document to be filed under seal, a party may file a document under seal only on motion and by permission of the Presiding Judge. 57 (c) Procedure. When a party files a document under seal or a motion for leave to file a document under seal, the party must submit with the motion the original and a judge’s copy of the document to be filed under seal, along with an electronic copy of the document on electronic media. The original of the document must be referenced as an exhibit to the motion.

If leave to file the document under seal is granted, the Bankruptcy Clerk must file the original of the document under seal.