D. Me. Loc. R. 157.6

A pleading or document listed in subsection (a) that is designated in the caption of

the document or pleading as being filed under Local Rule 157.6(a) (Sealed Document)

will be accepted as filed under seal without prior approval from the Court. Otherwise,

parties seeking to seal a pleading or document must file a motion to seal in accordance

with subsection (b) or subsection (g).

(a) Automatic Sealing

The following documents will be sealed upon filing. They will remain sealed

until further order of the Court, unless otherwise provided below.

(1) search warrant and tracking warrant applications, supporting affidavits

and resulting warrants, which will be sealed until the warrant is

executed and returned to the Court;

(2) arrest warrants, which will be sealed until the warrant is executed;

(3) motions, orders, and notices concerning matters occurring before the

grand jury;

(4) applications and orders for pen/trap devices, or wire, oral or electronic

communication interceptions;

(5) applications and orders for the disclosure of tax information;

(6) motions and orders involving the Classified Information Procedures Act;

(7) all ex parte requests;

(8) all pretrial services reports, presentence investigation reports, and

revocation reports;

(9) motions, orders, and any other pleadings and documents involving the

Juvenile Delinquency Act; and

(10) cooperation agreements, which will be sealed until the Defendant is

sentenced and then for an additional period of time equal to any term of

imprisonment that the Court may impose.

(b) Motions to Seal

A party seeking to obtain an order sealing any document not listed in

subsection (a) of this rule or seeking to continue the sealing of any pleading or

document already sealed must file a motion under this subsection. The motion

must state the basis for sealing, the period of time during which the document

is to be sealed and must set forth specific findings as to the need for sealing

and the duration thereof. The motion itself must be filed under seal and remain

sealed pending order of the Court under subsection (e). The document for which

sealing is sought will be accepted provisionally under seal. Unless the motion

is filed ex parte, the motion must include a statement whether there is

agreement of the parties to the sealing.

(c) Response and Reply

Any response or reply to a motion to seal or motion filed under seal under

subsection (b) must be filed under seal. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court,

the response and reply must be filed in accordance with Local Rule 147.

(d) Captions and Attachments to Motions

The caption for a motion to seal, and any response or reply thereto, must

clearly identify the document as relating to sealed matters. Any documents

submitted along with the motion to seal must bear the proper case number and

contain the words “Filed Under Seal” in the caption.

(e) Orders

(1) If the Court grants a motion to seal filed under subsection (b), it will

state its findings supporting the issuance of an order to seal and will

specify the duration of sealing. In making specific findings as to the need

for sealing and the duration the document must be sealed, the Court

may incorporate by reference the proposed findings in the motion to seal.

(2) If the Court denies a motion to seal filed under subsection (b), the motion

to seal and any proposed paper documents tendered under provisional

seal with that motion to seal will be returned to the moving party. Any

electronic versions of the proposed documents will remain on ECF,

sealed indefinitely, unless otherwise ordered by the Court. The denied

motion to seal will remain sealed indefinitely, unless otherwise ordered

by the Court.

(f) Form of Filing

Filings under seal, and motions to seal and any response and reply thereto,

must be in paper, unless otherwise directed by the Clerk.

(g) Transcripts of Proceedings in Criminal Cases

(1) Duty to Request Sealing. Counsel must request an order sealing some

or all of a transcript of a criminal proceeding held before the Court.

(2) Producing a Transcript. Except for content ordered sealed by the

Court, court reporters or other individuals designated to produce the

record will not review the record for sealed or confidential information

before producing or filing the transcript.

(3) Partial Transcript. When the Court orders content in a transcript

sealed, the court reporter will make the textual notation “sealed” in that

part of the transcript. The cover page of the transcript will contain the

text “Partial Transcript.” The part ordered sealed will not be preserved

with empty or blacked-out line and page numbers. The court reporter

will file the partial transcript, which will be available to the public.

(4) Unredacted Transcript. Court reporters will separately file the

unredacted transcript containing information ordered sealed. The

docket entry associated with this transcript and the transcript itself will

be sealed from the public.