UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
General Order No. 2026-06
In Re: Application for Exemption from the Electronic Public Access Fees by Jianbo Bin
This matter is before the Court upon the application and request by Jianbo Bin for exemption
from the fees imposed by the Electronic Public Access fee schedule adopted by the Judicial
Conference of the United States Courts.
The Court finds that Jianbo Bin, an individual associated with a non-profit research institution,
falls within the class of users listed in the fee schedule as being eligible for a fee exemption.
Additionally, Mr. Bin has demonstrated that an exemption is necessary in order to avoid
unreasonable burdens and to promote public access to information. Accordingly, Mr. Bin shall
be exempt from the payment of fees for access via PACER to the electronic case files maintained
in this court, to the extent such use is incurred in the course of conducting research to examine
whether service providers/recordkeepers of 401(k) plans strategically influence the investment
menu by limiting the inclusion of well-performing or low-fee unaffiliated funds relative to
affiliated alternatives, and whether such menu design is associated with participant allocations
and subsequent ERISA litigation. Mr. Bin shall not be exempt from the payment of fees incurred
in connection with other uses of the PACER system in this court. Additionally, the following
limitations apply:
I. this fee exemption applies only to Jianbo Bin, PACER Account No. 8914450, and is
valid only for the purposes stated above;
II. this fee exemption applies only to the electronic case files of this court that are available
through the PACER system;
III. by accepting this exemption, Jianbo Bin agrees not to sell for profit any data obtained as
a result of receiving this exemption;
IV. Jianbo Bin is prohibited from transferring any data obtained as a result of receiving this
exemption, including redistribution via internet-based databases;
V. this exemption is valid from March 4, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
This exemption may be revoked at the discretion of the Court at any time. A copy of this Order
shall be sent to the PACER Service Center.
SO ORDERED on April 24, 2026.
/s/ Holly A. Brady__________________
Chief Judge, United States District Court
Northern District of Indiana
