Williams County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Sealing & Redaction Procedures

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

An in-camera child interview recording or transcript must be kept separately and withheld from parties and counsel without Court approval; a transcript becomes available only after objections are filed or an appeal is taken.

E. In the event that the Court conducts an in camera interview of any child, upon request of any party or in its own discretion, the Court shall hold said recording or transcript of the recording in a separate file. The recording shall not be made available to either party or counsel without Court approval. A transcript of said recording shall only be made available to counsel or the parties after the filing of Objections to a Magistrate’s Decision to the Court or an appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Documents containing sensitive personal information must be maintained by the Clerk in a separate non-public file.

A. Documents filed in any case containing sensitive personal information shall be kept in a separate non-public file to be maintained by the Clerk of Courts in such manner and in such location as the Clerk deems appropriate.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Sensitive documents may be ordered into the non-public file, while social security numbers and other identifying information must be redacted from documents placed in the public file.

C. Upon motion of any party or upon the Court’s own motion, other documents containing sensitive personal information may be ordered to be kept in the non-public file. If there are documents which are to be filed in the “ public file” containing social security numbers or any other individual identifying information, the same shall be redacted on those documents in the “ public file.”

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

The Clerk must retain a filed Victim’s Rights Form as non-public; prosecutors, victims, and victims' representatives receive unredacted copies, while defendants and defense counsel may access it only with the victim's address, contact information, and identifying information redacted unless the court orders otherwise.

A Victim’s Rights Form shall be retained by the Clerk of Courts as a non- public document. a. Those who are entitled to unredacted copy: prosecutor, victim or victim’s representative b. Defendant and Defense Counsel shall have access to the form except for the victim’s address and other contact or identifying information unless ordered by this court.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

The custody evaluation report and its attachments are not publicly accessible and are placed in the family file, where counsel or self-represented parties may view them upon request.

The written report shall not be available for public access pur suant to Sup.R. 44 through 47. The report and any attachments shall be placed in the family file and may be viewed by counsel and/or self-represented parties upon request.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Social security numbers and other information excluded from the public record must be redacted, with the original petition filed under seal and a redacted copy placed in the public case file.

All social security numbers and other information that must be excluded from public record shall be redacted in accordance with the rules of this court and the Rules of Superintendence. Upon filing of a Petition, the Clerk shall file the original under seal for use by the Court, and prepare a redacted copy for inclusion in the portion of the case file accessible to the public.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

A filing containing trade secrets or attorney-client or work-product communications may be publicly filed in redacted form, but a complete unredacted version must then be submitted to the court for in camera review.

If a receiver’s report, motion, fee application, or other filing refers to trade secrets (such as a plan for operating an ongoing business, proposed sale prices, customer information, personnel matters, or other non-public information) or would necessarily reference attorney-client or work product communications, then redacted documents may be filed in the public record and served upon all parties that have appeared. When that occurs, a complete un-redacted document shall be submitted to the court for in camera review.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Inspection and review of the non-public file are limited to the listed individuals acting in their duties or as directed by the Court.

Contents of the non-public file may be inspected and reviewed by the following individuals in the performance of their duties or as the Court may direct:

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

When the Court deems advisable, potential-juror lists may identify jurors only by number, with other identifying data withheld and sealed.

To preserve the privacy and confidentiality of prospective jurors, when deemed advisable by the Court, lists of potential jurors submitted to counsel may be identified only by number, and other identifying data, i.e. telephone numbers, addresses, etc., may be withheld and sealed.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

If ordered by the Court, counsel may not disclose prospective-juror identifying data or Juror Questionnaire information to litigants, defendants, or others outside counsel's professional office.

The Court may order that identifying data of prospective jurors and information contained on Juror Questionnaires provided counsel shall not be disclosed by counsel to litigants, defendants, or others not directly associated with counsel’s professional office.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

B. The non-public file shall contain the following items:

Summary: The non-public file must contain the listed categories of documents.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Other individuals may request to inspect and review the contents of the non-public file by filing a motion.

Summary: Other individuals may seek access to the non-public file by filing a motion.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

At the time the report is submitted for filing, the clerk shall file a notice in the public file stating the date that the report of the investigation has been filed.

Summary: When the custody evaluation report is submitted for filing, the clerk must place in the public file a notice stating the report's filing date.