Opinion
21 Cr. 387
06-22-2021
United States of America v. Naheem Escort, Defendant.
AUDREY STRAUSS, United States Attorney Matthew Weinberg, Assistant United States Attorney Neil Kelly, Federal Defenders of New York Counsel for Naheem Escort
AUDREY STRAUSS, United States Attorney
Matthew Weinberg, Assistant United States Attorney
Neil Kelly, Federal Defenders of New York Counsel for Naheem Escort
PROTECTIVE ORDER
THE HONORABLE DENTSE L. COTE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Upon the application of the United States of America, with the consent of the undersigned counsel, the Court hereby finds and orders as follows:
Confidential Material.
The Government will make disclosure to the defendants of documents, objects and information, including electronically stored information ("ESI"), pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16, 18 U.S.C. §3500, and the Government's general obligation to produce exculpatory and impeachment material in criminal case. Certain of that discovery may include material that affects the privacy and confidentiality of individuals. Discovery materials produced by the Government to the defendants or their counsel that are either (1) designated in whole or in part as "Subject to Protective Order" by the Government in emails or communications to defense counsel, or (2) that include a Bates or other label stating "Subject to Protective Order," shall be deemed "Confidential Material."
NOW, THEREFORE, FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. Confidential Material shall not be disclosed by the defendant or defense counsel, including any successor counsel ("the defense") other than as set forth herein, and shall be used by the defense solely for purposes of defending this action. The defense shall not post any Confidential Material on any Internet site or network site to which persons other than the parties hereto have access, and shall not disclose any Confidential Material to the media or any third party except as set forth below.
2. Confidential Material may be disclosed by counsel to:
(a) Personnel for whose conduct counsel is responsible, i.e., personnel employed by or retained by counsel, as needed for purposes of defending this action;
(b) Prospective witnesses for purposes of defending this action;
(c) The defendant; and
(d) Such other persons as hereafter may be authorized by the Court.
3. The Government may authorize, in writing, disclosure of Confidential Material beyond that otherwise permitted by this Order without further Order of this Court.
4. This Order does not prevent the disclosure of any Confidential Material in any hearing or trial held in this action, or to any judge or magistrate judge, for purposes of this action. All filings should comply with the privacy protection provisions of Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.1.
5. Except for Confidential Material that has been made part of the record of this case, the defense shall return to the Government or securely destroy or delete all Confidential Material, including the seized ESI Confidential Material, within 30 days of the expiration of the period for direct appeal from any verdict in the above-captioned case; the period of direct appeal from any order dismissing any of the charges in the above-captioned case; or the granting of any motion made on behalf of the Government dismissing any charges in the above-captioned case, whichever date is later, subject to defense counsel's obligation to retain client files under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
6. The defense shall provide a copy of this Order to prospective witnesses and persons retained by counsel to whom the defense has disclosed Confidential Material. All such persons shall be subject to the terms of this Order. Defense counsel shall maintain a record of what Confidential Material has been disclosed to which such persons.
7. In the event of any dispute as to the Government's designation of particular disclosure material as Confidential Material, the parties shall meet and confer, without prejudice to a subsequent application by defense counsel seeking de-designation of such material by the Court. If the defense moves the Court for de-designation of disputed material, the Government shall respond within seven days of the defense filing, absent further Order of this Court. The Government shall bear the burden of establishing good cause for its designation of the disputed materials. Absent a contrary order of this Court, the Government's designation of disclosure material as Confidential Material shall be controlling.
8. This Order applies to material produced by the Government, and does not restrict disclosure of material in the defendant's possession prior to any production by the Government.
Retention of Jurisdiction
9. The provisions of this order shall not terminate at the conclusion of this criminal prosecution and the Court will retain jurisdiction to enforce this Order following termination of the case.
SO ORDERED.