On April 20, 2026, Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz entered an Administrative Order restricting electronic access to sealed documents beginning April 20, 2026. Sealed documents will continue to be filed in CM/ECF under existing procedures (https://www.nmb.uscourts.gov/online-manual/order-seal-documents).  A party with the right to access a sealed document can still request a paper copy by contacting the Clerk’s Office (web_ops@nmb.uscourts.gov ); applicable copy charges will be applied to such requests. There may be some administrative delay in obtaining access to sealed documents.

Because sealed documents filed in CM/ECF will no longer be accessible or viewable electronically, service cannot be accomplished through CM/ECF.  Subject to confidentiality restrictions, parties will have to serve sealed documents by other appropriate means as provided by the Fed. R. Bankr. P. and the Fed. R. Civ. P. or as otherwise provided by the Court. The Court will serve and notice sealed documents in paper by mail.  A copy of the Administrative Order is posted to the Court’s website: www.nmb.uscourts.gov/court-info/local-rules-and-orders/general-orders. 

In most instances, it is not necessary to file a document containing sensitive information as a “sealed” document. The Court can protect documents containing sensitive information by filing them as “restricted” rather than “sealed” documents. A “restricted” document is accessible only to the Court and some or all parties to the case or adversary proceeding, as the Court designates, but is restricted from public access.