DC District Court Permits E-filing under Seal | Practical Law

DC District Court Permits E-filing under Seal | Practical Law

Effective immediately, the US District Court for the District of Columbia will allow litigants to e-file documents under seal in civil cases. Previously, the court's rules required sealed documents to be filed in the conventional, paper format.

DC District Court Permits E-filing under Seal

Practical Law Legal Update 2-522-4697 (Approx. 2 pages)

DC District Court Permits E-filing under Seal

by PLC Litigation
Published on 16 Nov 2012 • USA (National/Federal)
Effective immediately, the US District Court for the District of Columbia will allow litigants to e-file documents under seal in civil cases. Previously, the court's rules required sealed documents to be filed in the conventional, paper format.
On November 14, 2012, the US District Court for the District of Columbia announced that litigants may now electronically file sealed documents in civil actions pending in that court. The court's announcement explains how to properly e-file sealed documents through its Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system. Among other things, the court notes that:
  • Under seal e-filing is allowed only in public/unsealed cases.
  • Before e-filing a sealed document, the filing party must have been granted permission to file under seal.
  • Once e-filed, only the assigned judge and limited court staff may access the sealed document electronically, though the docket entry for the filing will be accessible to the public.
  • Opposing counsel must be served with the sealed document in the conventional manner because they will not have access to the sealed document through CM/ECF or PACER.
  • A redacted version of the document must be e-filed in addition to the version filed under seal.
  • If the filing party cannot e-file the sealed document due to technical problems, the filing party must file it conventionally with the court clerk during normal business hours.