04J

Overview

Utah

Overview

8th Cir.

Overview

Idaho

The public has the right of access to electronic records of “litigant/party indexes to cases filed with the court; listings of new case filings, including the names of the parties; the chronological case summary of events; calendars or dockets of court proceedings, including case numbers and captions, date and time of hearings, and location of hearings; and final judgments, orders, or decrees.” Idaho Courts Admin. R. 32(e)(1).

Overview

Nebraska

Overview

Virginia

Overview

9th Cir.

United States v. Schlette, 842 F.2d 1574 (9th Cir. 1988). Newspaper has common law right to access presentence investigation reports.

United States v. Doe, 269 Fed.Appx. 626 (9th Cir. 2008). Public has qualified First Amendment right of access to defendant’s plea, sentencing, and probation transcripts. Affirmed district court’s order to unseal them but vacated order to unseal transcripts of hearings in which the government explained the reasons for sealing the plea.

Overview

Illinois

There appears to be no reported Illinois case law on this issue.

Overview

New Hampshire

Overview

Vermont

Vermont v. LaBounty, 702 A.2d 82 (Vt. 1997). No First Amendment right of access attaches to pre-sentence investigation reports prepared for use in state sentencing hearings.

Overview

10th Cir.

United States v. Hickey, 767 F.2d 705 (10th Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1022 (1985). Defendant not entitled to see sealed plea bargain of witness scheduled to testify in his case because of concerns for witness safety. Common law right to access court records does not extend to sealed plea bargain and separate court file of co-conspirator.