CLERK'S O FFICE
U.S. DISTRICT. C
OURT
AT ROANOKE, VA
FILED
JUN I 4 2024
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICTCOURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
IN THE MATTER OF: )
PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING, ) STANDING ORDER
FILING, AND MANAGEMENT OF ) No. 2024-5
HIGHLY SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS )
This Standing Order updates the security procedures adopted in Standing Order No.
2021-01, In the Matter of: Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management of Highly
Sensitive Documents, to protect highly sensitive documents (HSDs), a narrow subset of sealed
documents that must, for their protection, be stored outside the court's electronic systems.
The court finds that good cause exists to permit nonelectronic filing under Civil Rule
5(d)(3)(A) and Criminal Rule 49(b)(3)(A), and to adopt the revised HSD Guidance, published
by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Attachment A, which includes a
standard definition ofHSDs, a dedicated procedure for filing, serving, and maintaining HSDs,
and factors to be considered by judicial officers in determining ifa document is an HSD.
Therefore, it is ORDERED that, effective as ofthe date of this standing order and until
such time as the court orders otherwise, HSDs will be filed and served in paper form or on a
secure electronic device, such as an encrypted, external hard drive or flash drive 1 , in accordance
with this Order and the HSD Guidance, and will be maintained by the clerk's office in a secure
paper filing system or secure standalone computer system that is not connected to any network.2
This Order supersedes any and all prior court orders and inconsistent local rules concerning
HSDs.
1. Documents and Materials Subject to this Order
a. Definition: A Highly Sensitive Document is a document or other material that
contains sensitive, but unclassified, information that warrants exceptional
handling and storage procedures to prevent significant consequences that could
result if such information were obtained or disclosed in an unauthorized manner.
Although HSDs are more frequently related to law enforcement materials,
1 The presiding judge shall have the discretion to order HSD to be filed exclusively in paper form or on a
secure electronic device.
2
This guidance does not apply to classified information, which should be handled according to the
Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) and the ChiefJustice's Security Procedures related thereto, 18 U.S.C.
app 3 §§ I, 9. The Chief Justice's Security Procedures (criminal prosecutions) and the Department of Justice (DOJ)
regulation 28 C.F.R. § I 7. I 7{c} (civil actions) govern classified information in any form in the custody of a court.
