Statutory Sealing of a File Law and Legal Definition
Statutory sealing of a file is the sealing of a file in accordance with the law provided in the statute. Statutes may have specific provisions authorizing a court to seal or limit the disclosure of files, affidavits, documents, or other materials, whether at a pretrial or trial stage. Generally Statutorily sealed documents are confidential.
Example of a State Statute (Connecticut) on sealing of records
Conn. Practice Book § 11-20A
”*** (c) Upon written motion of any party, or upon its own motion, the judicial authority may order that files, affidavits, documents, or other materials on file or lodged with the court or in connection with a court proceeding be sealed or their disclosure limited only if the judicial authority concludes that such order is necessary to preserve an interest which is determined to override the public's interest in viewing such materials. The judicial authority shall first consider reasonable alternatives to any such order and any such order shall be no broader than necessary to protect such overriding interest. An agreement of the parties to seal or limit the disclosure of documents on file with the court or filed in connection with a court proceeding shall not constitute a sufficient basis for the issuance of such an order. ****”
