FILED
US DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT
OF ARKANSAS
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT November 3, 2025
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS OFFICE OF THE CLERK
IN RE: ACCESS AND M ANAGEMENT OF SEALED DOCUMENTS
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2025-1
In response to the recent escalation in cyberattacks on the Case
Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) systems of federal courts, the
Western District of Arkansas has implemented new procedures for the storage and
management of sealed documents;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERD that, effective as of the date of this order and until
such time the court orders otherwise,
1. Electronic Access to Sealed Documents. Parties may resume filing sealed
documents in the CM/ECF system, but the documents will no longer be
accessible or viewable to the parties by electronic means.
a. Although the parties will receive a notice of electronic filing (NEF)
when a sealed document is filed in CM/ECF, the document link on the
NEF will only contain a placeholder PDF.
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 cannot be accomplished through
CM/ECF. Parties will need to serve sealed documents by other appropriate
means as provided by the Federal Rules of Procedure.
a. When appropriate, the Clerk's Office will provide court filed sealed
documents by mail unless other means are authorized by the court.
3. Add it ional Copies of Sealed Documents. Because sealed documents that
are filed in CM/ECF are no longer accessible or viewable electronically, a
party with the right to access a sealed document in a case may request a
paper copy by contacting the Clerk's Office
at:
[email protected].
a. Applicable fees will be applied to such requests.
4. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSD's). Sealed documents that are defined
as HSD's will continue to be subject to the court's HSD procedures as set
forth in General Order 2021-01.
5. Questions regarding Sealed Document Procedures. Any questions about
the filing of and access to sealed documents should be directed to the clerk's
office at
[email protected] or 1-833-853-0345.
This Administrative Order supersedes all prior court orders, announcements, and/or
administrative policies and procedures regarding sealed document filing.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 3rd day ofNove
HYL. OOKS
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
