Electronic Access to Sealed Documents and Service of Sealed Documents

The Administrative Office (AO) has implementing a new Sealed Document Security (SDS) system to address identified security vulnerabilities and strengthen the protection of restricted filings in CM/ECF. Under the SDS program, all newly filed restricted documents (Sealed, Applicable Party, Ex Parte, or Case Participant) will be stored in a more secure electronic file storage (EFS) system. In addition, the system has transferred all previously filed restricted documents from CM/ECF to the alternate EFS.

Administrative Order 25-MC-04-25 In RE: Procedures for the Storage and Management of Sealed Documents was entered for the Court on September 24, 2025. The Order removes electronic access to restricted and sealed documents. Restricted and sealed documents will continue to be filed in CM/ECF under existing procedures; however, they will no longer be accessible or served electronically. Service must be effected by means other than CM/ECF, consistent with the Federal Rules of Procedure. The Court will serve its restricted and sealed documents in paper by mail, until further notice.

Parties who are authorized to access a restricted or sealed document may request a paper copy from the Records Department. Information about how to make a request and any applicable fees is available on the Records page. 

Please refer to the Order for more information. Should you have any questions about these procedures, or have questions regarding electronic access, please contact the CM/ECF Help Desk by email at cmecf@nmd.uscourts.gov or by phone at 505-348-2075. 

**ATTENTION REGARDING FILING IMMIGRATION PETITIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (Nature of Suit 463). Under Fed.R. Civ. P. 5.2(c) remote public access limits apply automatically at the case level in certain case types, including Social Security and immigration matters. Generally, additional restrictions should not be applied to individual filings unless specifically required by rule or court order. Applying unnecessary restrictions may trigger the Court's Sealed Document Security (SDS) system resulting in the document being transferred to the electronic file storage (EFS) system, limiting access for parties entitled to review the filing, and may delay case processing. If this occurs, you may be contacted by the Clerk's Office to refile the document and any attachments without the additional access restriction.**