FILED
FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CLERK’S OFFICE
CLERK’S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE United
UnitedStates
StatesDistrict
DistrictCourt
Court
Eastern District of Tennessee
Date: Dec 23, 2025, 8:11 am
)
IN RE: ) SO-25-13
)
ACCESS, SERVICE, AND ) Chief District Judge
MANAGEMENT OF SEALED ) Travis R. McDonough
DOCUMENTS )
)
)
STANDING ORDER
On September 24, 2025, the Court entered SO-25-09 related to the access, service, and
management of sealed documents. On October 30, 2025, the Court entered SO-25-12 amending
SO-25-09. The Court now amends SO-25-12. This order supersedes SO-25-09, SO-25-12, and
any other inconsistent orders and local rules.
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 but will no longer be accessible or viewable to
authorized external users by electronic means.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CM/ECF. Service of sealed documents
cannot be accomplished through CM/ECF. Parties shall serve sealed documents by other
appropriate means as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure. When the Court enters a sealed document, it will serve the document by
secure electronic means or, in the alternative, in paper by mail. Federal Defender Services of
Eastern Tennessee, the United States Attorney’s Office, and United States Probation and Pretrial
Services shall provide the Clerk’s Office with a single email address for the receipt of service of
sealed documents by secure electronic means. Any sealed documents required to be served to
these agencies pursuant to SO-24-05 shall be served to the addresses specifically designated for
the receipt of service of sealed documents by secure electronic means.
3. Service of Documents on United States Probation and Pretrial Services. The
following categories of documents, if sealed, shall be served on United States Probation and
Pretrial Services via encrypted email:
a. Motions for bond;
b. Plea supplements;
c. Objections to presentence reports and related documents;
d. Sentencing memoranda and related documents;
e. Motions for downward departure pursuant to the provisions of Section 5K of the
United States Sentencing Guidelines; and
f. Motions to reduce sentence, including motions filed pursuant to Rule 35 of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and related filings.
4. Sealed Petitions for Revocation. Prior to an initial appearance on revocation
proceedings for a defendant in federal custody, United States Probation and Pretrial Services
may provide, in any appropriate manner, copies of sealed petitions for revocation of pretrial
release and sealed petitions for revocation of supervised release to the United States Attorney’s
Office and to the defense counsel set to appear at the initial appearance.
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5. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents. Subsequent to service, any additional
copies of a sealed document requested by a party with the right to access the document will be
provided in paper format. Copy fees will be applied to such requests in accordance with the
current fee schedule.
6. Highly Sensitive Information (HSI). Sealed documents containing HSI will
continue to be subject to the Court’s HSI procedures as set forth in SO-25-08.
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.
SO ORDERED.
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TRAVIS
TR
RAVIS R. MCDONOUGH
M DO
MC ONOUGH
UNITED STATES S DISTRICT
DIST
DI STRI
RICT
CT JJUDGE
UDGE
UD GE
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