Privacy and Electronic Court Files

You should not include sensitive information in any document filed with the court unless such inclusion is necessary and useful to the case. The Judicial Conference's privacy policy requires that certain personal data identifiers be removed from the case file or pleading whether it is filed traditionally or electronically:

    *Social Security numbers should be listed with only the last four digits
    *Birth dates should contain only the year of birth
    *Individuals known to be minors should be referred to by initials only
    *Financial account numbers should be listed with only the last four digits

You must remember that any personal information not otherwise protected will be made available over the internet via PACER.

Documents filed traditionally in paper, by mail or over the counter, are scanned by the Clerk's Office and become part of the electronic court file. These records are public records and can be read, downloaded, stored, and printed. The Clerk's Office will not make electronically available documents that have been sealed or otherwise restricted by court order.