San Diego Superior Court Sealing & Redaction Procedures
19 rules from official source documents
7 of 19 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
Procedures for filing sealed or redacted documents, including required motions and formats. This page is scoped to San Diego Superior Court; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Stipulated protective orders and motions to seal must comply with CRC Rules 2.550 and 2.551; records will not be sealed based solely on party agreement or stipulation.
Proposed stipulated protective orders for protection of confidential information will be approved only if the language in the proposed order is consistent with CRC Rules 2.550 and 2.551. Motions and applications to seal must comply with Rules 2.550 and 2.551. Records will not be sealed based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Protective orders and sealing must comply with CRC rules 2.550 and 2.551; records are not sealed on stipulation alone, and sealed substantive motions are not decided until after the sealing hearing.
Proposed stipulated protective orders for protection of confidential information will only be approved if the language in the proposed order is consistent with California Rules of Court, rules 2.550 and 2.551. Motions and applications to seal must comply with rules 2.550 and 2.551. Records will not be sealed based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties. If documents have been lodged conditionally under seal in support of/opposition to a motion, the substantive motion will not be decided until after the hearing on the motion or application to seal. Parties may appear ex parte to request a hearing on a motion to seal in advance of a pending substantive motion, or alternatively, to continue the substantive motion.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
Documents may be filed under seal only in compliance with California Rules of Court Rule Nos. 2.550 and 2.551.
The Court requires adherence with statutory procedures to file documents under seal. The Court will not order any document sealed which is not submitted in accordance with California Rules of Court, Rule Nos. 2.550 and 2.551.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
Documents submitted conditionally under seal will not be sealed unless the party complies with CRC Rule Nos. 2.550, 2.551, and 3.1302(b).
Documents submitted "conditionally under seal" will not be sealed unless the submitting party complies with CRC Rule Nos. 2.550, 2.551, and 3.1302(b).
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
Supporting documents filed under seal for any motion are governed by CRC Rules 2.550/2.551, and the motion is not determined until a noticed motion to seal is calendared and decided; Rule 2.550 does not apply to discovery motions.
If a party desires to file supporting documents under seal for any motion, CRC Rule Nos. 2.550 and 2.551 apply. The motion will not be determined until a noticed motion to seal has been calendared and decided. Note: CRC Rule No. 2.550 does not apply to discovery motions and records filed or lodged in connection with discovery motions or proceedings.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
If documents are lodged conditionally under seal, the substantive motion will not be decided until after the hearing on the motion to seal.
If documents have been lodged conditionally under seal in support of/opposition to a motion, the substantive motion will not be decided until after the hearing on the motion or application to seal.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026INFO
The Court prefers to accept confidential documents as lodged documents for discovery and other motions, returning them to the submitting party after determination.
For determination of discovery and other motions, the Court prefers to accept confidential documents as "lodged documents." All lodged documents are returned to the submitting party upon the Court's determination of the motion or application. (CRC Rule No. 3.1302(b).)
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
The Court requires adherence with statutory procedures to file documents under seal or "conditionally under seal". The Court will not seal any document not submitted in accordance with California Rules of Court, Rule Nos. 2.550 and 2.551.
Summary: Documents under seal or conditionally under seal must comply with CRC Rules 2.550 and 2.551; the Court will not seal non-compliant documents.
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Civil cases
However, if a party desires to file motion briefing or supporting documents with redactions and/or under seal, CRC Rule Nos. 2.550 and 2.551 apply, and the motion will not be adjudicated until a noticed motion to seal has been calendared and decided.
Summary: Motion briefing filed with redactions or under seal requires a noticed motion to seal, and the motion will not be adjudicated until it is decided.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
In such cases, the submitting party must include a separate NOL for the redacted filings and lodge a USB drive containing the unredacted version of any documents filed or conditionally filed under seal.
Summary: When filing redacted or under-seal documents, the party must include a separate NOL for redacted filings and lodge a USB drive with the unredacted versions.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Proposed stipulated protective orders for protection of confidential information will only be approved if the language in the proposed order is consistent with California Rules of Court, rules 2.550 and 2.551. Motions and applications to seal must comply with rules 2.550 and 2.551. Records will not be sealed based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties. If documents have been lodged conditionally under seal in support of/opposition to a motion, the substantive motion will not be decided until after the hearing on the motion or application to seal. Parties may appear ex parte to request a hearing on a motion to seal in advance of a pending substantive motion, or alternatively to continue the substantive motion.
Summary: Protective orders and motions to seal must comply with CRC rules 2.550/2.551; records are not sealed by stipulation alone, and substantive motions are held until the sealing hearing is resolved.
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Civil cases
Requests to seal court records must comply with CRC 2.550 and 2.551.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Proposed stipulated protective orders for protection of confidential information will only be approved if the language in the proposed order is consistent with California Rules of Court, rules 2.550 and 2.551. Motions and applications to seal must comply with rules 2.550 and 2.551. Records will not be sealed based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties. If documents have been lodged conditionally under seal in support of/opposition to a motion, the substantive motion will not be decided until after the hearing on the motion or application to seal. Parties may appear ex parte to request a hearing on a motion to seal in advance of a pending substantive motion, or alternatively to continue the substantive motion.
Summary: Sealing requires a motion complying with CRC rules 2.550/2.551; records are not sealed by stipulation alone, and a substantive motion is not decided until the sealing motion is heard.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Civil cases
Requests for sealing will not be addressed ex parte unless otherwise instructed by the Court.
Summary: Sealing requests will not be addressed ex parte unless the Court instructs otherwise.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Civil cases
For determination of motions containing confidential materials, the Court prefers parties to lodge—rather than file—the confidential documents via a properly filed Notice of Lodgment ("NOL").
Summary: For motions containing confidential materials, the Court prefers parties to lodge rather than file the confidential documents via a Notice of Lodgment.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Civil cases
For documents filed conditionally under seal, if no motion to seal is filed within the allotted statutory time, the submitting party is directed to inform the court clerk that the documents are to be made part of the public record and file a notice with the Court.
Summary: If no motion to seal is filed within the statutory time for conditionally sealed documents, the party must inform the clerk and file a notice that the documents become part of the public record.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Civil cases
Where any Confidential Materials, or Information derived from Confidential Materials, is included in any motion or other proceeding governed by California Rules of Court, Rules 2.550 and 2.551, the party shall lodge the Confidential Materials and shall follow those rules. With respect to discovery motions or other proceedings not governed by California Rules of Court, Rules 2.550 and 2.551, the following shall apply: If Confidential Materials or Information derived from Confidential Materials are submitted to or otherwise disclosed to the Court in connection with discovery motions and proceedings, the same shall be separately lodged with the clerk of the Court in an envelope marked: "CONFIDENTIAL – LODGED PURSUANT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER".
Summary: Confidential materials in motions governed by CRC 2.550/2.551 must be lodged; in discovery motions not so governed, confidential materials must be separately lodged with the clerk in an envelope marked 'CONFIDENTIAL – LODGED PURSUANT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER'.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
Civil cases
Exhibits filed in this manner become part of the ROA but are not publicly filed and require no sealing motion.
Summary: Exhibits lodged via NOL become part of the record but are not publicly filed and require no sealing motion.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Requests to seal court records must comply with CRC 2.550 and 2.551. Note: "The court must not permit a record to be filed under seal based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties." CRC 2.551(a).
Summary: Sealing requests must comply with CRC 2.550 and 2.551; records may not be sealed based solely on party stipulation.
How does San Diego Superior Court handle sealed or redacted filings?
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Judy S. Bae. Stipulated protective orders and motions to seal must comply with CRC Rules 2.550 and 2.551; records will not be sealed based solely on party agreement or stipulation.
Judge Terrie E. Roberts's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Documents may be filed under seal only in compliance with California Rules of Court Rule Nos. 2.550 and 2.551.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Mark T. Cumba. Protective orders and sealing must comply with CRC rules 2.550 and 2.551; records are not sealed on stipulation alone, and sealed substantive motions are not decided until after the sealing hearing.
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