The Law Mind

In Re: Procedures for Access and Management of Sealed Documents

E.D.N.C. Standing Order — In Re: Procedures for Access and Management of Sealed Docume

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA 25-SO-1 INRE: ) FILED PROCEDURES FOR ACCESS AND ) MANAGEMENT OF SEALED ) SEP 24 2025 DOCUMENTS ) PETER A. MOORE, JR., CLERK ) BY v.. US 01s1 1 ~URT, EDNC DEPCLK WHEREAS recent cyberattacks on the CM/ECF systems of federal courts require 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. Definition of Sealed Documents. The term "sealed documents" as used in this Order includes both sealed and restricted access documents that are not available through public terminal access. 2. Electronic Access to Sealed Documents. Sealed documents will continue to be filed in CM/ECF under existing procedures including Local Civil Rule 79.2, Local Criminal 55.2, and the Electronic Case Filing Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual. Sealed documents, however, will no longer be accessible or viewable by electronic means. 3. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CM/ECF. Because sealed documents filed in CM/ECF will no longer be accessible or viewable electronically, service cannot 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. 4. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents. Because sealed documents filed in CM/ECF will no longer be accessible or viewable electronically, a party or non-party with the right to access a sealed document in a case who requires a copy of a sealed document must contact the clerk's office to request a paper copy. Applicable copy fees set forth in the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule will be applied to such requests. 5. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs). Sealed documents that are defined as HSDs will continue to be subject to the court's HSD procedures as set forth in Standing Order 24-SO- l , In re: Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents. 6. Probation Documents. Any sealed document filed by the United States Probation Office will be served by that office on an applicable party outside of CM/ECF. The deadlines set forth in Local Criminal Rule 32.2 will continue to apply, and parties' objections or responses to a presentence investigation report will be filed in CM/ECF but must be served by a party outside of CM/ECF. 7. 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 9 r9-645- l 700. This Order supersedes any and all inconsistent local rules, standing orders, and provisions in the Electronic Case Filing Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual. IT IS SO ORDERED , this 24th day of September, 2025. ~ILN1~""'s-~ RJCHARD E. MYERS II Chief United States District Judge 2
Official source: https://www.nced.uscourts.gov/pdfs/StandingOrders/25-SO-1.pdf · retrieved 2026-07-23