UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
S O U T H E R N D I S T R I C T OF N E W Y O R K
NOTICE TO THE BAR
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN TAMMI HELLWIG
Chief Judge Clerk of Court
Dated: Contact:
September 24, 2025
[email protected]
SDNY Announces Changes to
Electronic Access to and
Service of Sealed Documents
In accordance with guidance from the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, on
September 23, 2025, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
adopted a Standing Order implementing new procedures for the storage and service of
electronically filed sealed documents (attached).
What Remains the Same
Sealed documents must continue to be filed in the court’s Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system in
accordance with Local Civil Rule 5.2 and the ECF Rules & Instructions.
Users will continue to receive a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) when case activity occurs,
including when a sealed document is electronically filed in ECF.
Applications to treat sealed documents as Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs), to be filed in
paper form outside the ECF system, may continue to be made in accordance with Standing Order
21-mc-00006.
What’s New
Sealed documents filed electronically will no longer be accessible or viewable through the ECF
or PACER systems by non-court users.
While the docket text will be publicly available, the PDF copy of the document will not be
accessible or viewable by non-court users. Users should avoid clicking on the link in the NEF in
THE HON. CHARLES L. BRIEANT JR. THE DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN THE THURGOOD MARSHALL
FEDERAL BUILDING AND COURTHOUSE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
300 QUARROPAS STREET 500 PEARL STREET, ROOM 820 40 FOLEY SQUARE
WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601-4150 NEW YORK, NY 10007-1312 NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 805-0500
order not to be charged a fee by PACER for viewing a blank placeholder file.
To obtain access to an electronically filed sealed document, users should rely on the copy served
by their adversary. A party with a right to access a sealed document may also request a paper
copy by contacting the clerk’s office. Applicable copy fees will be applied to requests made to
the court.
New Service Procedure
Service of sealed documents will no longer be accomplished by electronically filing in the ECF
system.
Service must now be accomplished outside of ECF by other appropriate means as provided by
the applicable Federal Rules of Procedure. Service of filed documents outside the ECF system
must always be followed by the filing of proof of service in the ECF system.
Sealed court orders will be served by first-class mail or other secure means approved by the
issuing judge.
For more information, see the court’s Standing Order regarding Procedures for Access to and
Service of Sealed Documents (25-mc-00421).
Questions about the filing of and access to sealed documents may be directed to the court’s ECF
Help Desk. The Help Desk is available via email at
[email protected], Monday
through Friday during business hours.
###
THE HON. CHARLES L. BRIEANT JR. THE DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN THE THURGOOD MARSHALL
FEDERAL BUILDING AND COURTHOUSE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
300 QUARROPAS STREET 500 PEARL STREET, ROOM 820 40 FOLEY SQUARE
WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601-4150 NEW YORK, NY 10007-1312 NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 805-0500
Case 1:25-mc-00421-LTS Document 1 Filed 09/24/25 Page 1 of 2
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------x
:
IN RE: : STANDING
PROCEDURES FOR ACCESS TO : ORDER
AND SERVICE OF : M10-468
SEALED DOCUMENTS :
:
------------------------------------------------------x
WHEREAS a recent escalation in cyberattacks on the CM/ECF systems of federal courts
requires 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. Electronic Access to Sealed Documents – Sealed documents will continue to be filed in
CM/ECF under existing procedures (see ECF Rules & Instructions) but will no longer be
accessible or viewable by electronic means by non-court users.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CM/ECF – Because sealed documents filed in
CM/ECF are no longer electronically accessible or viewable by non-court users, service
of those documents can no longer be accomplished through CM/ECF. Parties must serve
sealed documents by other appropriate means consistent with the applicable Federal
Rules of Procedure. Service accomplished outside the CM/ECF system must be
documented in accordance with the applicable Federal Rules of Procedure concerning
certificates of service. Sealed orders of the court will be served in paper form by first-
class mail or other secure means approved by the issuing judge.
3. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents – Because sealed documents filed in CM/ECF
are no longer electronically accessible or viewable by non-court users, a party with the
Case 1:25-mc-00421-LTS Document 1 Filed 09/24/25 Page 2 of 2
right to access a sealed document in a case who requires a copy of a sealed document
may contact opposing counsel or the clerk’s office to request a paper copy. Applicable
copy fees will be applied to requests made to the court.
4. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs) – Sealed documents that are defined as HSDs will
continue to be subject to the procedures found in Standing Order 21-mc-0006.
5. Questions about Sealed Document Procedures – Questions about the filing of and
access to sealed documents may be directed to the court’s ECF Help Desk. The Help
Desk is available via email at
[email protected], Monday through Friday
during business hours.
This Order supersedes any and all inconsistent prior court orders, ECF Rules and Local Rules.
SO ORDERED:
Dated: September 23, 2025
New York, NY ___________________________________
Laura Taylor Swain
Chief United States District Judge
