Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Sealing & Redaction Procedures
9 rules from official source documents
Procedures for filing sealed or redacted documents, including required motions and formats.
CRITICALCivil cases
If an exhibit contains confidential information or confidential documents under the Pennsylvania policy, the proponent must file a copy and a compliant certification with the Department of Court Records.
(d) Exhibits Under Seal. If an exhibit offered into evidence contains confidential information or confidential documents as defined by the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (“Policy”), the proponent shall file a copy of the exhibit and a certification prepared in compliance with the Policy, and the Department of Court Records requirement, with the Department of Court Records.
CRITICALCivil cases
The arbitrators may not open the confidential settlement-offer envelope until reaching the basic award.
The arbitrators shall not open said envelope until they have reached their basic award.
CRITICALCivil cases
An exhibit sealed by the court during the proceedings is not accessible to the public.
1. Any exhibit sealed by the court during the court proceeding(s) shall not be accessible to the public.
CRITICALCivil cases
When an exhibit offered into evidence contains confidential information or documents, the proponent must file a copy of the exhibit and a required certification with the Department of Court Records.
(d) Exhibits Under Seal. If an exhibit offered into evidence contains confidential information or confidential documents as defined by the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (“Policy”), the proponent shall file a copy of the exhibit and a certification prepared in compliance with the Policy, and the Department of Court Records requirement, with the Department of Court Records.
CRITICAL
All filings and proceedings must comply with the Case Records Public Access Policy and confidentiality requirements applicable to minors.
All filings and proceedings must comply with the Case Records Public Access Policy and confidentiality requirements for minors.
CRITICALCivil cases
The petition and proposed order must be sent to Chambers for review at the same time as the Motion to Seal.
When submitting the Motion to Seal to the Court, you must send the Petition and Proposed Order to Chambers via the aforementioned email address for review contemporaneous with the Motion to Seal.
CRITICALCivil cases
A request to seal a petition and order requires a Motion to Seal presented to Judge Connelly rather than General Motions.
If the parties wish to have the Petition and Order sealed, they must file a Motion to Seal and present the same to Judge Connelly in accordance with these Standard Operating Procedures – these motions should not be presented to General Motions.
WARNINGCivil cases
A petitioner whose safety would be endangered by publication may seek an exception to the publication or request sealing of the record.
If Petitioner’s safety would be in jeopardy by reason of the publication of the name change, Petitioner may:
WARNING
The court will seal an SIJ order when appropriate.
The Court will seal orders when appropriate.
How does Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas handle sealed or redacted filings?
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas: If an exhibit contains confidential information or confidential documents under the Pennsylvania policy, the proponent must file a copy and a compliant certification with the Department of Court Records.
Judge Nicola Henry-Taylor: All filings and proceedings must comply with the Case Records Public Access Policy and confidentiality requirements applicable to minors.
Judge Patrick M. Connelly: Process: file unredacted to chambers. The petition and proposed order must be sent to Chambers for review at the same time as the Motion to Seal.
6 more rules answer this question.
Related categories
Back to all rules for this courtPage & Word Limits
Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.