UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
STANDING ORDER GOVERNING ADMINISTRATIVE MOTIONS
TO FILE MATERIALS UNDER SEAL BEFORE
DISTRICT JUDGE JON S. TIGAR
In addition to the information required by Civil Local Rule 79-5, administrative motions to file
materials under seal must contain the following information:
1. A statement that the filing party has reviewed and complied with this order.
2. A statement that the filing party has reviewed and complied with Civil Local Rule
79-5, including the requirement to file separate motions if a party seeks to file under
seal a document containing “portions that more than one party bears the burden of
showing is sealable.” Civil L.R. 79-5(f)(5).
The motion or statement in support of sealing must identify the applicable legal standard (i.e.,
compelling reasons or good cause), explain why that standard applies, and articulate, with
evidentiary support where necessary, why the materials to be sealed satisfy that standard. See
Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(1)–(2). “Reference to a stipulation or protective order that allows a party to
designate certain documents as confidential is not sufficient to establish that a document, or
portions thereof, are sealable.” Civil L.R. 79-5(c). Conclusory references to “competitive harm”
without explanation are also almost always insufficient justification for sealing.
If a Designating Party seeks less extensive sealing than a motion filed under Civil Local Rule
79-5(f), that party must file revised redacted and unredacted versions of the documents sought to
be sealed, as well as a revised proposed order.
Unredacted versions of all documents sought to be partially filed under seal “must highlight the
portions for which sealing is sought.” Civil L.R. 79-5(e)(2). If the document contains
information sought to be sealed by multiple parties, a different color highlighting should be used
to indicate the material designated by each party.
Proposed orders must identify the appropriate legal standard, be “narrowly tailored to seal only
the sealable material,” and “list[] in table format each document or portion thereof that is sought
to be sealed.” Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(3). Tables must include a column for the Court’s ruling as to
each document. Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to
[email protected].
Electronic copies of sealed documents are required when a filed document consists of multiple
parts and includes more than one part sought to be filed under seal—for example, a declaration
with six exhibits, three of which are sought to be filed under seal. Parties must submit a single
PDF of the entire document either by (a) following the instructions for Uploading Digital
Exhibits available at https://cand.uscourts.gov/attorneys/attorney-practice-resources, using the
“Chambers Copies ONLY” Case Type, and selecting the “SEALED” dropdown in the box under
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JST Sealing Motions Standing Order
“Case Name” or (b) contacting the Courtroom Deputy at
[email protected] to arrange a
different method of delivery (e.g., sharing a secured file link).
Each exhibit must be bookmarked, and sealed material or material sought to be filed under seal
must be highlighted. Where possible, the PDF must bear the ECF stamp (case number,
document number, date, and page number) at the top of each page.
Dated: June 3, 2026
_____________________________________
JON S. TIGAR
United States District Judge
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JST Sealing Motions Standing Order
