Thomas v. United States of America

Filing 30

ORDER by U.S. District Judge John C Coughenour granting Government's 27 Motion to seal. Exhibit 12 28 to Government's Answer shall remain sealed. (PM) cc: Petitioner via the U.S. Mail

THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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STEVEN ASIR THOMAS,

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Petitioner,
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v.

CASE NO. C16-1147-JCC
ORDER GRANTING
RESPONDENT’S MOTION TO
SEAL

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

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Respondent.

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This matter comes before the Court on the Government’s unopposed motion to seal (Dkt.

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16 No. 27). Having thoroughly considered the parties’ briefing and the relevant record, the Court
17 finds oral argument unnecessary and hereby GRANTS the motion for the reasons explained
18 herein.
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The Court starts from the position that “[t]here is a strong presumption of public access to

20 [its] files.” W.D. Wash. Local Civ. R. 5(g)(3); see also Nixon v. Warner Commc’ns, Inc., 435
21 U.S. 589, 597 (1978). However, documents filed in support of a dispositive motion should
22 remain under seal when a party can “articulate[] compelling reasons supported by specific
23 factual findings” that outweigh the public’s interest in access. Kamakana v. City & Cty. of
24 Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006).
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The Government requests that one exhibit to its answer in opposition to Petitioner Steven

26 Thomas’s motion to vacate, set aside, and correct sentence remain sealed. (Dkt. No. 27 at 1.) The
ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT’S MOTION
TO SEAL
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1 Government contends that the “attachment contains sensitive and personal information.” (Id.)
2 The Court finds that these are compelling reasons to keep the exhibit sealed and agrees that it
3 should remain sealed. Therefore, the motion to seal is GRANTED.
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DATED this 25th day of January 2017.

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A

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John C. Coughenour
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT’S MOTION
TO SEAL
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