NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICY
OF COURT ELECTRONIC FILES

      The Office of the Clerk accepts electronically filed cases and pleadings and makes the content of these documents available on the court's Internet website via Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). Any PACER subscriber will be able to read, download, store and print the full content of electronically filed documents. The clerk's office will not make electronically available documents that have been sealed or otherwise restricted by court order.

      You should not include sensitive information in any document filed with the court unless such inclusion is necessary and relevant to the case. You must remember that any personal information not otherwise protected will be made available over the Internet via PACER. Under the Judicial Conference’s privacy policy certain personal data identifiers must be partially redacted from the case file or pleading whether it is filed traditionally or electronically. Parties may file a Request for Redaction of personal identifiers from a transcript pursuant to General Order No. 2008-3.

1) Social Security numbers should be redacted to show only the last four digits;
2) Birth dates should contain only the year of birth;
3) Individuals known to be minors should be referred to with initials, and
4) Financial account numbers should be redacted to the last four digits.

In compliance with the E-Government Act of 2002, a party wishing to file a document containing the personal data identifiers specified above may

(a) file an unredacted document under seal. This document shall be retained by the court as part of the record.

or

(b) file a reference list under seal. The reference list shall contain the complete personal data identifier(s) and the redacted identifier(s) used in its (their) place in the filing. All reference in the case to the redacted identifiers included in the reference list will be construed to refer to the corresponding complete identifier. The reference list must be filed under seal, and may be amended as of right. It shall be retained by the court as part of the record.

The court may, however, still require the party to file a redacted copy for the public file. In addition, exercise caution when filing documents that contain the following:

1) Personal identifying number, such as driver's license number;
2) medical records, treatment and diagnosis;
3) employment history;
4) individual financial information; and
5) proprietary or trade secret information

      Counsel is strongly urged to share this notice with all clients so that an informed decision about the inclusion of certain materials may be made. If a redacted document is filed, it is the sole responsibility of counsel and the parties to be sure that all pleadings comply with the rules of this court requiring redaction of personal data identifiers. The clerk will not review each pleading for redaction.