Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County Sealing & Redaction Procedures

CRITICALCivil cases

To seek sealing under Rule 5.4, e-file a sealing motion, submit a proposed sealing order in Word format, lodge the document with the Clerk, and simultaneously email its electronic copy to Division staff; the order must identify the document and include required findings.

When seeking to file a document under seal pursuant to A.R.Civ.P. 5.4, the filing party must: (i) e-file a motion to file the document under seal; (ii) submit a proposed form of Order sealing the document in Word format through the eFile system; and (iii) lodge the document to be sealed at the Clerk's filing counter. The proposed Order sealing the document must specifically identify the document by title and date of lodging and contain the findings required by A.R.Civ.P. 5.4. The filing party also must simultaneously email an electronic copy of the document proposed to be sealed to the Division's staff. If the Court grants the motion to seal, the Clerk's Office will file the lodged document under seal.

CRITICAL

The request to file documents under seal must be lodged in paper form under Rule 5.4(e)(2).

The Division requires compliance with 5.4(e)(2) regarding the lodging the request to file documents under seal being provided in paper form so the Court may properly consider the request.

CRITICAL

Requests to file a pleading or document under seal must comply with Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure 5.4, including subsections (d) and (e).

All requests to file a pleading or document under seal must comply with Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure 5.4, including, but not limited to Subsections (d-e).

WARNING

The judge avoids sealing entire files and typically files documents concerning sensitive matters as confidential, allowing case participants and court staff access while shielding them from public disclosure.

I avoid placing an entire file under seal. However, I typically will file documents that pertain to sensitive matters as confidential documents, which allows the parties, their counsel, and court staff to have access to the documents while protecting them from disclosure to the general public.

WARNINGCivil cases

Sealed filings are discouraged and require a significant reason to shield records from public view.

Filings under seal are discouraged. There must be a significant reason to shield records from public view and to create administrative hardships for court access via such designation.

WARNINGCivil cases

Sealed filings are discouraged, and the Court will seal a file only as a last resort.

Filings under seal are discouraged, simply because it makes file access difficult for the Court, and the parties. This Court will place a file under seal as a last resort.

WARNING

If e-filing anything under seal, or information requiring in-camera inspection, a copy should be delivered to my Division or it may not be accessible.

If e-filing anything under seal, or information requiring in-camera inspection, a copy should be delivered to my Division or it may not be accessible.