CLERKS OFFICE US DISTRICT COURT
AT ROANOKE, VA
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FILED
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA October 03, 2025
LAURA A. AUSTIN, CLERK
IN THE MATTER OF: ) BY: /s/ Deneene King
DEPUTY CLERK
)
ACCESS, SERVICE, AND ) Standing Order No. 2025-13
MANAGEMENT OF )
SEALED DOCUMENTS )
Due to the escalation of recent cyberattacks on the Case Management/Electronic Case Files
(“CMECF”) system of the federal courts, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
has implemented new procedures for the storage and management of sealed documents in CMECF.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that, effective as of the date of this Order, and until such
time as the Court orders otherwise, the Court adopts the following procedures:
1. Filing and Electronic Access to Sealed Documents. Parties with filing privileges will file
sealed documents in CMECF. After filing, those documents will no longer be accessible
or viewable by electronic means.
2. Service of Sealed Documents Filed in CMECF. Since sealed documents filed in CMECF
will no longer be accessible or viewable, service of those documents cannot be
accomplished electronically in CMECF through a Notice of Electronic Filing. Instead,
parties will serve sealed documents conventionally or by other appropriate means as
provided by the Federal Rules of Procedure or the Court’s Local Rules. The Court will
serve Court-generated sealed documents in paper by mail or through secure electronic
means to attorneys of record, self-represented parties, and other applicable parties.
3. Additional Copies of Sealed Documents. Since sealed documents filed in CMECF are no
longer accessible or viewable electronically, a party with permission to access a sealed
document in a case who requires a copy of a sealed document will contact the filing party
or the Clerk’s office for 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 copies to the Clerk’s Office
will be subject to the current docket copy fee rate.
4. Highly Sensitive Documents (HSDs). Sealed documents that are defined as HSDs will
continue to be subject to the Court’s HSD procedures as set forth in Paragraph 4(b)–(d) of
Standing Order No. 2024-5.
5. Questions About Sealed Document Procedures. Any questions about the filing of and
access to sealed documents can be directed to the Clerk’s Office at any location within the
district. The address and phone number for the Clerk’s office at each location is available
on the Court’s website.
6. Submitting Sealed or Proposed Sealed Documents by Encrypted Email. The use of
encrypted email to submit certain sealed or proposed documents to the Court that are not
docketed by the submitter in CMECF remains the only acceptable electronic method of
transmittal. Unencrypted emails deemed or marked “confidential” or other similar terms
do not comply with this order.
7. Local General Rule 9—Sealed Documents. To the extent Local Rule 9 conflicts with this
Standing Order, the Standing Order governs. Materials that do not qualify as HSD
following the HSD filing procedures, should be referred to as “sealed” and are subject to
these procedures. Materials that are permitted to be filed under seal without the need for
an accompanying motion to seal, such as a motion for reduced sentence under Fed. R.
Crim. P. 35, may continue to be filed under seal without a motion.
This Order supersedes all inconsistent prior orders or orders regarding procedures for the
filing of sealed documents.
It is SO ORDERED.
Entered: October 3, 2025.
/s/ Elizabeth K. Dillon
Elizabeth K. Dillon
Chief United States District Judge
