Multnomah County Circuit Court Sealing & Redaction Procedures

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

An order sealing documents must be narrowly tailored to withhold only information authorized by law to be sealed.

Any order granting a motion to file documents under seal must be narrow in scope to ensure that the only information withheld from public inspection is information expressly authorized by law to be sealed. A judge is more likely to sign an order sealing a specific section of a document, rather than an entire pleading or file.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

To file a document under seal, parties must conventionally present a motion and proposed order to the assigned motions judge, and the motion must state the statutory authority, reason for protection, and materials to be sealed.

In order to file a document under seal, the parties must conventionally present a motion and proposed order to the assigned motions judge in the case. See SLR 5.165 and UTCR 5.160. The motion to file a document under seal must address the following three components: 1) The statutory authority for sealing the documents; 2) The reason for protecting the documents or materials from public inspection; and 3) A description of the documents or materials to be sealed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

A protective order alone is insufficient to establish a basis for sealing a document designated confidential.

Note: a Protective Order, whether stipulated or not, is NOT sufficient to demonstrate the statutory, constitutional, or other basis for sealing a document that a party has designated as “confidential.”

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Protected records cannot be subpoenaed without court permission. The requesting attorney will have to demonstrate that the protected information is unavailable by other means. If contested, this motion must be heard by the case’s motions judge. If not contested, a request for protected records can be heard at ex parte and must be supported by an affidavit explaining why the records are necessary.

Summary: Subpoenas for protected records require court permission; contested requests go to the motions judge, uncontested requests may be heard at ex parte with a supporting affidavit.

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Individually identifiable health information records delivered to the court under subpoena in a civil action are available for inspection in Room 3315 of the courthouse. If you wish to inspect these records, please obtain an order from a judge allowing release of documents.

Summary: Inspecting subpoenaed health information records requires a judge's order allowing release of the documents.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

In order to file a document under seal, the parties must conventionally present a motion and proposed order to the assigned motions judge in the case. See SLR 5.165 and UTCR 5.160. The motion to file a document under seal must address the following three components: 1) The statutory authority for sealing the documents; 2) The reason for protecting the documents or materials from public inspection; and 3) A description of the documents or materials to be sealed.

Summary: To file a document under seal, parties must conventionally present a motion and proposed order to the motions judge addressing statutory authority, the reason for protection, and a description of the documents.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Once the motions judge has signed an order allowing a document to be filed under seal, the parties must complete the following steps: 1) The original, unredacted and unaltered version of the document must be submitted in a 9'' x 12'' envelope, which will be securely stored in the courthouse file room. 2) A copy of the signed order allowing the document to be filed under seal must be affixed to the front of the envelope. The order must specify which document is contained in the envelope (e.g., "John Doe's Declaration in Support of Plaintiff's Motion to Compel" or "Exhibit 1 of John Doe's Declaration in Support of Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment"). 3) A redacted or otherwise altered version of the document must be filed to stand "in place" of the document under seal. A slip sheet is not sufficient unless specifically allowed by the motions judge. 4) All documents, including the motion, signed order to file under seal, redacted copies, unredacted originals in envelopes, and any other ancillary document part of the underlying pleading must be filed together conventionally with the Civil Department.

Summary: After a sealing order is signed, the unredacted original must be submitted in a 9'' x 12'' envelope with the signed order affixed to the front, a redacted version (not a slip sheet) filed in its place, and all documents filed together conventionally with the Civil Department.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Note: a Protective Order, whether stipulated or not, is NOT sufficient to demonstrate the statutory, constitutional, or other basis for sealing a document that a party has designated as "confidential."

Summary: A protective order, even if stipulated, is not sufficient basis to seal a document designated as confidential.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?

A judge is more likely to sign an order sealing a specific section of a document, rather than an entire pleading or file.

Summary: Judges prefer sealing specific sections of documents over sealing an entire pleading or file.

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

1) The original, unredacted and unaltered version of the document must be submitted in a 9’’ x 12’’ envelope, which will be securely stored in the courthouse file room. 2) A copy of the signed order allowing the document to be filed under seal must be affixed to the front of the envelope. The order must specify which document is contained in the envelope (e.g., “John Doe’s Declaration in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel” or “Exhibit 1 of John Doe’s Declaration in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment”). 3) A redacted or otherwise altered version of the document must be filed to stand “in place” of the document under seal. A slip sheet is not sufficient unless specifically allowed by the motions judge.

Summary: After the judge signs the sealing order, submit the unredacted original in a 9-by-12-inch envelope with the signed order affixed and file a redacted or altered version in its place; a slip sheet is insufficient unless authorized.