IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
IN RE: )
)
PROCEDURES FOR ACCESS AND ) MISC. ACTION NO. 25-1000-JB
MANAGEMENT OF SEALED )
DOCUMENTS. )
ORDER
WHEREAS a recent escalation in cyberattacks on the CM/ECF systems of federal courts
requires the implementation of new procedures for the storage and management of sealed
documents;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, effective as of the date of this order and until such
time as the court orders otherwise,
1. Electronic Access to Sealed Documents. Sealed documents will continue to be filed
in CM/ECF under existing procedures (see General L.R. 5.2), but will no longer be
accessible or viewable by electronic means.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CM/ECF. Because sealed documents filed in
CM/ECF are no longer accessible or viewable electronically, service of those
documents can no longer be accomplished through CM/ECF. Parties will have to
serve sealed documents by other appropriate means as provided by the Federal Rules
of Procedure. The court will serve sealed documents in paper by mail.
3. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents. Because sealed documents filed in
CM/ECF are no longer accessible or viewable electronically, a party with the right to
access a sealed document in a case who requires a copy of a sealed document will
have to contact the clerk’s office to request a paper copy. Applicable copy fees
(published at
https://www.alsd.uscourts.gov/sites/alsd/files/forms/ALSFeeSchedule2020-
2023Final.pdf) may apply to such requests.
4. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs). Sealed documents that are defined as HSDs
will continue to be subject to the court’s HSD procedures (set forth at
https://www.alsd.uscourts.gov/sites/alsd/files/HSD%20Administrative%20Order%20
rev%208-2024.pdf).
5. Questions about Sealed Document Procedures. Any questions about the filing of
and access to sealed documents should be directed to the Clerk’s Office at (251) 690-
2371 or through the contact form on our website
(https://www.alsd.uscourts.gov/content/contact-clerk-court).
DONE and ORDERED this ____ day of September, 2025.
JEFFREY U. BEAVERSTOCK
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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