IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
3: 25 MC 120
IN RE: PROCEDURES FOR ACCESS AND MANAGEMENT OF
SEALED DOCUMENTS
STANDING ORDER
Due to recent cyberattacks on the Case Management/Electronic Case Files
("CM/ECF") system of the federal courts, the United States District Court for the
Western District of North Carolina hereby implements new procedures for the
access, service, and management of sealed documents. Effective as of the date of
this order and until such time as the Court orders otherwise, the Court adopts the
below procedures regarding sealed documents filed in CM/ECF:
1. Filing and Electronic Access to Sealed Documents. Sealed documents
will continue to be filed in CM/ECF under the Court’s existing procedures. ECF
Administrative Procedures | Western District of North Carolina | United States
District Court. After filing, these documents will no longer be accessible or
viewable in CM/ECF.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CM/ECF. Because sealed
documents filed in CM/ECF are no longer accessible or viewable, service cannot
be accomplished through CM/ECF. Instead, parties will serve sealed documents
conventionally by other appropriate means as provided by the Federal Rules of
Procedure and the Court’s Local Rules. (See, Fed. R. Civ. P. 5, Fed. R. Crim. P.
49, LCvR6.1, and LCrR 49.1.1) The Court will serve sealed orders, notices, and
other Court-generated documents by secure electronic means to attorneys of record
and via U.S. Mail to non-CM/ECF filers.
3. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents. Since sealed documents filed
in CM/ECF will no longer be accessible or viewable, a party with permission to
access a sealed document in a case who requires a copy of a sealed document will
contact the Clerk’s Office to request a copy. After confirming that the party
making the request has permission to access the document, the Clerk’s Office will
provide the document(s) by either secure electronic means or by U.S. Mail.
Requests for paper copes of sealed documents will be subject to the current docket
copy fee rate as set by the District Court Fee Schedule.
Court Fees | Western District of North Carolina | United States District
Court.
4. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs). Sealed documents that are defined
as HSDs will continue to be subject to the Court’s HSD procedures. For more
information on the filing of HSDs, see the Court’s Standing Order.
Standing Order In Re: Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management
of Highly Sensitive Documents | Western District of North Carolina | United States
District Court.
5. 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 Contact Us | Western District of North Carolina | United States District
Court. Select “Sealed Document Copy Requests” from the category options.
This Order supersedes any and all inconsistent prior Court orders, local rules, or
other guidance regarding the filing of sealed documents.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 25th day of September 2025.
