Opinion
No. CV 10-01632-PHX-FJM
05-31-2012
Leanna Smith, Plaintiff, v. Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
We have before us plaintiff's motion for leave to file a response to defendants' motion for summary judgment and controverting statement of facts under seal because these documents discuss rulings of the juvenile court. (Doc. 144).
There is a "strong presumption in favor of access" to court records. Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1179 (9th Cir. 2006). To overcome this burden, a party seeking to seal a judicial record "must articulate compelling reasons supported by specific factual findings that outweigh the general history of access and the public policies favoring disclosure." Id. at 1178-79 (brackets, internal quotation marks, and citations omitted).
Juvenile court records and proceedings are generally confidential. See, e.g., A.R.S. § 8-208(F) ("Except as otherwise provided by law, the records of an adoption, severance or dependency proceeding shall not be open to public inspection."); § 8-537(A) (excluding general public from termination adjudication hearing). Public policy favors the protection of minors' privacy in such matters. Compelling reasons exist for sealing these documents.
IT IS ORDERED GRANTING plaintiff's motion to file under seal (doc. 144).
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Frederick J. Martone
United States District Judge