UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF RHODE ISLAND
IN RE: LOCAL RULES Misc. 71-7163
GENERAL ORDER REGARDING ACCESS, SERVICE, AND
MANAGEMENT OF SEALED DOCUMENTS
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 District of Rhode Island
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. (See, the Court’s
Guidance Regarding Motions to Seal in Civil Cases and Criminal Case.) After filing,
these documents will no longer be accessible or viewable in CM/ECF.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CM/ECF. Since sealed documents filed in
CM/ECF will no longer be 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, LR Gen 102 1, LR Cv 5.1, and LR Cr
49.) The Court will serve sealed orders, notices, and other Court-generated documents
by secure electronic means to attorneys of record and self-represented parties granted
CM/ECF filing privileges 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.
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 Second Amended General Order Regarding Procedures for the
1 In connection with this General Order, the Court has adopted an emergency amendment to LR Gen 102. For
more information, see the Court’s General Order Regarding Emergency Amendments to the Local Rules of
September 18, 2025.
Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents.
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 (401) 752-7220 or
[email protected].
6. This Order supersedes any and all inconsistent prior Court orders, local rules, or other
guidance regarding the filing of sealed documents.
By the Court:
Date: September 18, 2025 /s/ John J. McConnell, Jr. Chief Judge
