Ind. Sup. Ct. Order Amending Rules: order-rules-2026-0120-acr

In the

Indiana Supreme Court

Cause No. 26S-MS-8

Order Amending Rules on Access to Court Records

The Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure has proposed an amendment to the

Rules on Access to Court Records. The proposed amendment clarifies that personal

information of natural persons who are witnesses or victims excluded from public access does

not include criminal defendants. This exclusion was omitted when Administrative Rule 9(G)

was repealed and replaced by Access to Court Records Rule 5.

The Court has considered the proposed amendment. Under this Court’s authority to

establish procedures and supervise the administration of all courts in the state, Access to Court

Records Rule 5(C)(3) is amended as set forth in Exhibit A to this order (deletions shown by

strikethrough and new text shown by underlining).

This amendment is effective February 2, 2026.

Done at Indianapolis, Indiana, on.

Loretta H. Rush

Chief Justice of Indiana

All Justices concur.

1/20/2026

Exhibit A

Rules on Access to Court Records

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Rule 5: Records Excluded From Public Access.

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(C) Personal Information. of Litigants, Witnesses and Children:

(3) Addresses (mail or email), dates of birth, and phone numbers of natural persons who

are witnesses or victims in criminal, juvenile, or civil protection order proceedings areshall

be excluded from public access. The document containing the confidential information

mustshall be filed on green paper (if paper filing) or e-filed as a confidential document (if e-filed) or filed as a confidential document on green paper if paper filing. A separate

document with the confidential information redacted mustshall be filed on white paper (if

paper filing) or e-filed as a public document (if e-filing) or filed on white paper if paper filing.

A separate ACR Form identifying the information excluded from public access and the Rule

5 grounds for exclusion mustshall also be filed. This section does not apply to criminal

defendants.

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