Sealed Matters

The Court may seal cases in their entirety, or only as to certain parties or documents, when the cases are initiated, or at various stages of the proceedings. The Court may on its own motion enter an order directing that a document, party or entire case be sealed. A party seeking to have a document, party or entire case sealed shall submit an application, under seal, setting forth the reason(s) why the Court should seal the [Table of Contents] 86 [XI: Criminal Procedure] document, party or entire case, together with a proposed order for the assigned judge's approval. The proposed order shall include language in the “ORDERED” paragraph stating which document(s) are to be sealed and should include the phrase “including this sealing order.” Upon the assigned judge’s approval of the proposed sealing order, the Clerk shall seal the document(s) and the sealing order.

A complaint presented for filing with a motion to seal and a proposed order shall be treated as a sealed case, pending approval of the proposed order. Once the Court orders a document or a case sealed, it shall remain under seal until the Court enters a subsequent order, upon its own motion or in response to the motion of a party, directing that the Clerk unseal the document or case.