Court Rules

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Sealing & Redaction Procedures

8 rules from official source documents

6 of 8 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 Franklin County Court of Common Pleas; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

A courthouse or courtroom body-worn-camera recording may not be released externally without advance review by the Administrative Judge or designee, and any recording containing confidential, exempt, or privileged material requires that official's consent for release.

A recording made in the courthouse, or a courtroom, shall not be released to anyone outside the Court and the law enforcement agency unless the recording has been provided to the Administrative Judge, or his/her designee, in advance and with sufficient time to determine if there is confidential or exempt material contained within the recording. If the camera records and stores any portion of a Local Rule 101 Page 3 of 4 ===== PAGE 4 ===== court proceeding, confidential, exempt, or privileged material may not be released without Administrative Judge or designee consent.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Filings referencing trade secrets or privileged communications may be redacted for the public record, but a complete unredacted copy must be submitted to the court for in camera review; the court may later authorize disclosure.

If a receiver’s report, motion, fee application, or other filing refers to trade secrets (such as a plan for operating an ongoing business, proposed sale prices, customer information, personnel matters, or other non-public information) or would necessarily reference attorney-client or work-product communications, then redacted documents ===== PAGE 10 ===== may be filed in the public record and served upon all parties that have appeared. When that occurs, a complete un-redacted document shall be submitted to the court for in camera review. Upon application by the receiver or any party, the court will re- examine the document and determine whether previously redacted information should be disclosed in the public case file or for attorney-eyes only.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Documents may be filed under seal only after the Court has entered a prior sealing order.

Documents shall be filed under seal only with prior Court order.

Judge Michael J. Holbrook

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

A party may submit documents for sealed filing only after the sealing order has been signed and journalized.

A party shall file documents to be sealed only after an order sealing the documents has been signed and journalized.

Judge Michael J. Holbrook

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

The record custodian must make additional redactions before releasing a recording whenever directed to do so by the Administrative Judge or designee.

The custodian of the record shall, upon direction of the Administrative Judge or designee, execute further redactions prior to the release of the recording.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

When documents are ordered unsealed for the case record, the Clerk must remove the electronic restriction while preserving the original filing date.

Should the documents be ordered unsealed and maintained in the case record, the Clerk shall change the electronic restriction of the document, which preserves the actual date of the filing of the document.

Judge Michael J. Holbrook

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

All personal identifying information such as exact birth dates and social security numbers shall be redacted from materials by the Clerk before they are filed in the public records of this court, pursuant to the Ohio Rules of Superintendence.

Summary: The Clerk must redact personal identifying information, including exact birth dates and Social Security numbers, before CQE materials are placed in the court's public records.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Criminal cases

If necessary for interim billing while a case remains open, counsel shall submit redacted records, or tender an order to the assigned judge in camera that the billing materials be kept under seal at the court until completion of the case.

Summary: For interim billing while a criminal case remains open, counsel must submit redacted records or seek an in-camera order keeping the billing materials sealed until the case is completed.

Court-level rulesOfficial source
Common questions about Franklin County Court of Common Pleas sealing & redaction procedures

How does Franklin County Court of Common Pleas handle sealed or redacted filings?

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. A courthouse or courtroom body-worn-camera recording may not be released externally without advance review by the Administrative Judge or designee, and any recording containing confidential, exempt, or privileged material requires that official's consent for release.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 3, section 101.04 Body-Worn Cameras, C. Release of Recording, Public Records Request.

Judge Michael J. Holbrook's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Documents may be filed under seal only after the Court has entered a prior sealing order.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 13, section C. Service on Parties

6 more rules answer this question in the list above.