Dallas County Civil District Courts Sealing & Redaction Procedures

The protective order does not itself seal Court Records; any motion to seal Court Records must strictly comply with Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

This Order does not seal Court Records in this case and is only intended to facilitate the prompt production of discovery materials. Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

Documents containing sensitive data must be redacted by the filer prior to submission.

Pursuant to Rule 21c of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, documents containing sensitive data must be redacted by the filer prior to submission.

Filers must designate the document as containing sensitive data when e-filing.

Designating the document as containing sensitive data when the document is electronically filed; or

Paper filings containing sensitive data must include the notice phrase on the upper left-hand side of the first page.

If the document is not electronically filed, by including on the upper left‐hand side of the first page, the phrase: “NOTICE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS SENSITIVE DATA.”

Orders about appointments and fees may never be sealed or withheld from public disclosure.

Orders regarding appointments made and fees paid may not be sealed or otherwise withheld from public disclosure for any reason, regardless of whether any other information in the case is protected from disclosure.

Documents may be designated confidential by stamping "CONFIDENTIAL" or another agreed method, without obscuring the underlying writings.

A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word "CONFIDENTIAL" on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

Deposition portions may be designated confidential on the record or by written notice within 72 hours of receiving the transcript, and should be transcribed separately and marked by the court reporter.

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion(s) of the deposition as "CONFIDENTIAL" based on a good faith determination that any portions so claimed constitute a Protected Document. To the extent possible, any portions so claimed shall be transcribed separately and marked by the court reporter as "CONFIDENTIAL".

When a confidentiality claim is challenged, the claiming party must move for a court ruling; material stays confidential for 20 days if no motion is filed, or until the Court rules if a motion is filed.

In the event a claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court. The material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be treated as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

The protective order does not seal court records; any motion to seal court records must strictly comply with Rule 76a, TRCP.

This Order does not seal Court Records in this case and is only intended to facilitate the prompt production of discovery materials. Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

The Court requires its standard Protective Order form to be used, and any modifications or additions require a hearing set within 3-7 business days of contacting the Court Clerk.

As of October 2015, this Court has issued a standard Protective Order. In cases where the parties believe that a Protective Order is necessary, the Court requires that this form be utilized. The Court understands that in rare cases good cause may exist that requires variance from this Order. If a party desires to make modifications or additions to the Court's standard Protective Order, a hearing will be required. Hearings will be set within 3-7 business days after contacting the Court Clerk at 214-653-7748.

Any motion to seal court records must strictly follow Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

A party may designate a document as confidential by stamping it "CONFIDENTIAL" or using another reasonable method agreed by the parties, provided the stamping does not obscure the document's writings.

A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL” on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

A party may designate deposition portions as confidential on the record or by written notice to opposing counsel within 72 hours after receiving the deposition transcript.

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion(s) of the deposition as “CONFIDENTIAL” based on a good faith determination that any

Any party may challenge a confidentiality designation by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel; challenges to deposition designations may also be made on the record.

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided in the preceding sentence.

When a confidentiality claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment must move for a ruling from the Court.

In the event a claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court.

Protected Documents may be designated confidential by stamping 'CONFIDENTIAL' without obscuring text, or by another reasonable method agreed by the parties.

document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL ” on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

Deposition portions may be designated confidential by written notice to opposing counsel no later than 72 hours after receipt of the transcript.

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion (s) of the deposition as “CONFIDENTIAL ” based on a good faith determination that any portions so claimed constitute a Protected Document.

A confidentiality claim may be challenged by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel, or on the deposition record for Section 2(b) claims.

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as prov ided in the preceding

Challenged material remains confidential for a 20-day period unless the claiming party moves for a ruling; if a motion is filed, confidentiality continues until the Court rules.

material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be trea ted as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

Closing trial proceedings or sealing the trial record requires a separate party motion made in compliance with Rule 76a TRCP.

The closure of trial proceedings and sealing of the record of a trial involve considerations not presently before the Court. These issues may be taken up as a separate matter upon the motion of any party in compliance with Rule 76a TRCP.

The Order does not seal court records; any motion to seal court records must strictly comply with Rule 76a TRCP.

This Order does not seal Court Records in this case and is only intended to facilitate the prompt production of discovery materials. Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

Any party may challenge a confidentiality designation by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel.

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided in the preceding sentence.

The protective order does not apply at trial; sealing the trial record requires a separate motion under Rule 76a TRCP.

This Order shall not apply to the disclosure of Protected Documents or the information contained therein at the time of trial, through the receipt of Protected Documents into evidence or through the testimony of witnesses. The closure of trial proceedings and sealing of the record of a trial involve considerations not presently before the Court. These issues may be taken up as a separate matter upon the motion of any party in compliance with Rule 76a TRCP.

Confidential Material may only be used by counsel for litigation of this case or related actions, and may not be revealed without the claiming party's written consent or a Court order.

Confidential Material shall be treated as confidential and used (1) by counsel in this case solely for the litigation of this case or (2) by counsel in other actions arising out of the same or similar set of facts, transactions, or occurrences that are asserted in the petition filed in this case solely for the litigation of such actions. Except as set forth in Section 6, Confidential Material shall not be revealed without the express written consent of the party claiming same as Confidential Material or upon written order of the Court.

Documents determined in good faith to be Protected Documents may be designated confidential by stamping 'CONFIDENTIAL' or another reasonable method agreed by the parties, provided the stamping does not obscure the writings.

A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL” on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

A party may designate deposition portions as confidential on the record or by written notice to opposing counsel within 72 hours of receiving the deposition transcript.

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion(s) of the deposition as “CONFIDENTIAL” based on a good faith determination that any

Any party may challenge a confidentiality claim by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel; challenges to deposition designations may also be made on the deposition record.

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided in the preceding sentence.

When a confidentiality claim is challenged, the claiming party must move for a Court ruling; the material remains confidential for 20 days if no motion is filed, or until the Court rules if a motion is filed.

In the event a claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court. The material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be treated as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

Parties are not required to challenge confidentiality designations at the time of designation, and failing to do so does not waive the right to challenge later.

A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

Including the sensitive data notice on the upper left corner of the first page is preferred for e-filed documents.

CONTAINS SENSITIVE DATA” on the upper left‐hand corner of the first page for documents that are electronically filed, it is preferred.

Claiming a document as confidential constitutes a representation of a good faith determination that it contains Confidential Information.

By claiming a document Confidential Material pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), a party represents that it has made a bona fide, good faith determination that the document does, in fact, contain Confidential Information.

Parties are not required to challenge confidentiality designations at the time of designation and may do so later.

A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

Parties are not required to challenge confidentiality designations at the time of designation, and failing to do so does not bar a later challenge.

A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

The confidentiality order does not apply to disclosure of protected documents at trial, their receipt into evidence, or witness testimony.

This Order shall not apply to the disclosure of Protected Documents or the information contained therein at the time of trial, through the receipt of Protected Documents into evidence or through the testimony of witnesses.