Courtesy copies are required for application to seals, proposed orders, declarations, proof of services, and sealed documents. Details: 1 copy, delivery by 10am day after submission, by chambers drop off. Mandatory tabbed paper chambers copy of sealing request documents (document only) must be delivered to Judge Walter’s courtesy box by 10 a.m. the day after submission.
Judge John F. Walter's formatting rule includes must be word perfect or microsoft word (docx) format. Proposed orders must be formatted as Word Perfect or Microsoft Word (DOCX) files.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Proposed orders for sealing requests must include an alternative signature line with specified denial options.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Civil sealing requests must include factual/legal justification for good cause or compelling reasons for sealing.
Parties may contact Judge John F. Walter's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email JFW_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov. Chambers email address for criminal sealing request submissions is JFW_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge John F. Walter. Process: file unredacted to chambers. Sealing request (document only) filers must email specified PDF and Word documents to chambers with required subject line and caption marking.
Yes. Judge John F. Walter requires bundling for covered papers. Filing under seal in civil cases requires a mandatory two-step process: first file the Application for Leave to File Under Seal and unsealed attachments, then file the Sealed Declaration and sealed attachments.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Applications to seal only documents (not application/order) must be electronically filed with the proposed order attached.
Proof of service is required for the covered service rule. Details: recipient: the opposing party. Sealed documents are not accessible via NEF; filing party must serve on opposing counsel by other means, include certificate of service, and serve copy of NEF with sealed documents.
Applications to seal only documents (not application/order) must be electronically filed with the proposed order attached.
Proposed orders for sealing requests must include an alternative signature line with specified denial options.
Sealing request (document only) filers must email specified PDF and Word documents to chambers with required subject line and caption marking.
Mandatory tabbed paper chambers copy of sealing request documents (document only) must be delivered to Judge Walter’s courtesy box by 10 a.m. the day after submission.
Requests to seal application, order, and documents require electronic filing of a NOTICE OF MANUAL FILING.
Sealing request (application, order, documents) filers must email specified PDF and Word documents to chambers with required subject line and caption marking.
Sealed document titles are publicly viewable on the docket, even if the document itself is sealed.
Civil cases require redacted public versions and sealed complete versions of partially confidential documents, with unredacted copies having redacted portions bracketed and highlighted.
Civil sealing requests must include factual/legal justification for good cause or compelling reasons for sealing.
Each item sought to be sealed must be individually justified; blanket confidentiality claims are prohibited and will result in denial.
Meritless sealing/redaction requests may lead to complete rejection of the application.
Chambers email address for criminal sealing request submissions is JFW_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
Attorneys must e-file sealed documents in public/non-sealed civil cases via CM/ECF, with exceptions for criminal cases, entirely sealed cases, and pro se parties.
Confidential information must not be included in the public Application for Leave for In Camera Review.
Sealed documents must be e-filed using the CM/ECF 'Under Seal Filing Events' menu; regular motion events will result in public filing.
Leave of court via Application for Leave to File Under Seal is required before filing any sealed document.
Application for Leave to File Under Seal must include a declaration, proposed order, redacted version (if applicable), and unredacted version of the sealed documents.
Parties that designated a document confidential under a protective order must file a declaration explaining why it should be sealed, using the 'Sealed Declaration in Support' event.
After leave to file under seal is granted, the party must file the sealed document using the correct CM/ECF events and link it to the granting court order.
Redacted documents must only redact confidential portions and include 'REDACTED' in the caption and docket text.
Sealed documents are not accessible via NEF; filing party must serve on opposing counsel by other means, include certificate of service, and serve copy of NEF with sealed documents.
All sealed documents must be marked with the specified court-ordered seal language.
Proposed orders must be formatted as Word Perfect or Microsoft Word (DOCX) files.
Proposed orders must be emailed to chambers upon filing.
E-filed sealed documents require mandatory chambers copies in sealed envelopes with title page attachments.
Only documents filed using specific sealed docket events on the CIVIL CM/ECF menu are sealed upon submission.
Sealed documents that cannot be e-filed due to CM/ECF technical failure must be paper-filed with sealed envelopes and PDF CD requirements.
Docketing sealed events must display a red screen; if not, the entry must be restarted.
Local Rule 79-5.2.2 requires Applications for Leave to File Under Seal to include a declaration, proposed order, redacted version of partially sealed documents, and unredacted version of fully sealed documents.
Publicly viewable documents must be filed via non-sealed event 'Leave to File Under Seal'; sealed documents via sealed event 'Sealed Declaration in Support'.