Court Rules
About United States District Judge Sean D. Jordan

**District Judge Sean D. Jordan** was appointed to the Eastern District of Texas by President Donald Trump in 2019. He was nominated in 2019 and confirmed by the Senate on July 30, 2019. Judge Jordan was born in 1965 in New York, NY. Before his appointment, Judge Jordan was in private legal practice in Houston and Austin, Texas from 2012 to 2019. He previously served at the Texas Attorney General's Office from 2004 to 2012, rising through positions including Assistant Solicitor General, Deputy Solicitor General, and Principal Deputy Solicitor General. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1986. **Education** - University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1994 - University of Texas, B.A., 1991 **Career** - U.S. Army, E-4 (1983–1986) - Private practice, Houston and Austin, TX (1994–2004) - Assistant/Deputy/Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Texas Attorney General's Office (2004–2012) - Private practice, Texas (2012–2019)

**Courthouse:** United States Courthouse, Suite 111, 7940 Preston Road, Plano, TX 75024 **Phone:** (214) 872-4860 **Fax:** (214) 872-4861 **Chambers Staff** - Judicial Assistant: Lori Munoz, (214) 872-4862 - Courtroom Deputy: Bonnie Sanford, (214) 872-4866 - Court Reporter: Ruth Weese, (214) 872-4867 - Law Clerk: Jace Breedlove - Law Clerk: Sean Tehan - Law Clerk: Brett Duffek - Law Clerk: William Lewis

Common questions about Judge Sean D. Jordan's rules

What must be included with motion to seal filings before Judge Sean D. Jordan?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Three-document filing requirement for seal motions

View ruleSource: page 3, section B. Procedures

What must be included with sealed document filings before Judge Sean D. Jordan?

The rule requires caption, judge name, and case number. Must file sealed, unredacted version of document(s) at time of seal motion filing

View ruleSource: page 3, section B. Procedures

How does Judge Sean D. Jordan handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Sean D. Jordan. Process: file redacted on ecf. Standing order governs sealing of documents in civil cases before Judge Jordan

View ruleSource: page 1, section A. Legal Standard

Does Judge Sean D. Jordan require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Sean D. Jordan requires bundling for covered papers. Pretrial motions in criminal cases are referred to magistrate judges, except for specific motions.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REFERRAL ORDER
Complete rules summary for Judge Sean D. Jordan

Standing order governs sealing of documents in civil cases before Judge Jordan

Parties must understand legal standard before filing sealing motions

Section B contains specific sealing procedures supplementing Local Rule 5(a)(7)

Sealing order applies only to civil cases before Judge Jordan

Judicial records belong to the public and must be accessible

Courts must be ungenerous with discretion to seal judicial records

Parties must show compelling interests to overcome presumption of public access

Courts must balance public access rights against nondisclosure interests line-by-line

Courts must consider redaction as less drastic alternative to sealing entire documents

Three-document filing requirement for seal motions

Motion to seal must include document-by-document balancing and list each proposed redaction

Must file sealed, unredacted version of document(s) at time of seal motion filing

Must file public, redacted copy at time of seal motion filing with redactions corresponding to seal motion

Exception for sealing entire document - no public redacted copy required

Order supersedes local rule for sealed documents; non-compliance results in denial and striking

Prisoner civil rights cases in Sherman Division are randomly assigned to magistrate judges at filing.

Magistrate judge can conduct all proceedings if all parties consent.

Non-consenting cases are reassigned to district judge but referred to magistrate for non-dispositive matters.

Order only applies to cases filed on or after February 1, 2025.

Pretrial motions in criminal cases are referred to magistrate judges, except for specific motions.

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