General Order Impacts the Filing of Plea Negotiation and Sentencing Documents

Historically, many documents related to plea negotiations and sentencing were automatically placed under seal. This led to the likely oversealing of documents which is counter to the public nature of court proceedings. In order to strike a better balance between transparency in court proceedings, ensuring the safety of cooperating defendants, and the protection of confidential information, Chief Judge Austin Huffaker signed a General Order on July 7, 2026. Pursuant to the General Order, plea negotiation and sentencing documents will no longer be automatically placed under sealed. Rather, a party who believes a document contains confidential, private, and/or sensitive information must file a motion to seal with the Court.

Practitioners should carefully review the General Order to ensure compliance. The General Order is effective immediately.