Federal Judges' Pocket Guide on Sealed Cases

The Federal Judicial Center has published a pocket guide for federal judges focusing on the occasional need to seal court records and proceedings.

"The public in general, and news media in particular, have a qualified right of access to court proceedings and records rooted in the common law," the Guide states, "But on occasion there are good reasons for courts to keep parts of some proceedings confidential, such as classified information, ongoing investigations, trade secrets, and the identities of minors."

The 22-page pocket guide includes many references to the voluminous amount of federal case law in its discussion, and a procedural checklist of considerations when a record is sealed or when a proceeding is closed to the public.

Federal Judicial Center’s announcement