Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 36, September 7, 2024
Rule 3558 - Unsealing-MotionsA. A motion by an interested party to unseal an application, report, order, or other material previously placed under seal shall be in writing and shall be presented to the Issuing Judge. The Issuing Judge, upon good cause shown, may order an application, report, order, or other material (or portions thereof) within the Prothonotary's file to be unsealed and may impose such conditions or limitations thereon as may be necessary to safeguard the confidentiality of such information. This provision, however, shall not apply to investigative or law enforcement officers who may disclose the information pursuant to Section 5715 of the Wiretap Act.B. The Prothonotary, without express written permission from the Issuing Judge, shall not surrender original materials constituting a part of his or her file.C. The motion should identify with particularity the following:1. The specific application, report, order, or other materials sought to be unsealed.2. The purpose for which the order is sought.3. If the application, report, order, or other materials under seal is/are sought for a trial or other criminal proceeding, the motion shall state the type of proceeding, court docket number(s), the name(s) of the party(ies) involved, the forum, the date(s) and approximate length of time for which such application, report, order, or other materials will be utilized and name(s) and designation(s) of the person(s) having access to the unsealed application, report, order, or other materials.The provisions of this Rule 3558 adopted November 24, 2020, effective immediately, 50 Pa.B. 6994.