IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
IN RE: PROCEDURES FOR THE PUBLIC
FILING OF, ACCESS TO, SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
OF, AND MANAGEMENT OF
SEALED DOCUMENTS No. 25-AO-0002-P
____________________________
WHEREAS a recent escalation in cyberattacks on the Case Management/Electronic Case
Filing (CM/ECF) systems of federal courts requires 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 Filing of and Access to Sealed Documents.
a. Sealed documents will continue to be filed in the CM/ECF system under existing
procedures, but they will not be accessible or viewable to the parties by electronic
means. Although the parties will receive a notice of electronic filing when a sealed
document is filed in the CM/ECF system, the sealed document is replaced in the
CM/ECF system with a placeholder pdf file and housed in a court only, alternate
electronic file storage system.
b. Guidance regarding the filing of sealed documents is available at:
www.iand.uscourts.gov/sealed-events.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in the CM/ECF System.
a. Because sealed documents filed in the CM/ECF system are no longer accessible or
viewable electronically, service of those documents cannot be accomplished
through the CM/ECF system. Therefore, parties must serve all sealed documents
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filed in the CM/ECF system by other appropriate means as provided by the Federal
Rules of Procedure.
b. When appropriate, the Clerk’s Office will provide sealed documents by mail unless
other means are authorized by the court.
3. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents. Because sealed documents that are filed in the
CM/ECF system 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]. Applicable fees will be applied to such requests.
4. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs). Sealed documents that are defined as HSDs will
continue to be subject to the court’s HSDs procedures as set forth in Public Administrative
Order No. 21-AO-0001-P.
5. Questions about Sealed Document Procedures. Any question about the filing of or
access to a sealed document should be directed to the Clerk’s Office at:
[email protected].
This order supersedes any and all inconsistent prior court orders and/or local rules.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 28th day of September, 2025.
_________________________________
C.J. WILLIAMS
CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
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