Implementation of the Sealed Document Security (SDS) Program

The Sealed Document Security (SDS) program has been initiated by the Administrative Office to address security vulnerabilities of CM/ECF and is being implemented in all District, Appellate, and Bankruptcy Courts.  Due to security reasons and the sensitive nature of this matter, courts were given less than 24 hours’ notice of the implementation of changes.   

Under the new SDS program, sealed documents will continue to be filed in CM/ECF under existing procedures in civil and criminal cases but will no longer be accessible or viewable on CM/ECF or PACER.  Affected filings include those filed in civil and criminal cases that have access restriction levels of sealed, applicable party, case participants, and ex parte.

While the parties and the public never had access to sealed documents on CM/ECF, the parties did have access to some documents that were restricted to the case participants.  Examples include sealed declarations in support of applications for leave to file under seal and certain Probation and Pretrial Services documents.  The parties will no longer have access to these documents on CM/ECF.  Probation and Pretrial Services will begin providing Presentence Reports, Criminal History Reports, and Bail Review Packets to counsel by other means starting today.  Please note the requirements set forth in the Court’s Local Rule 79-5.3 for service of sealed documents filed in CM/ECF. 

For mandatory chambers copies, please include a printout of the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) and the placeholder or “stub” document for the filing on CM/ECF which includes the blue header, including the case and document numbers and the link to the filed document.

We appreciate your patience as we adjust to the new SDS program.

Brian D. Karth
District Court Executive/Clerk of Court
September 24, 2025