Federal Judges Pull Back on Posting Plea/Sentencing Data Online

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Federal judges in Pennsylvania and South Florida are withholding plea and sentencing memos from online case files because some of the information is being picked up by a Web site called WhosARat.com and used to out criminal informants and undercover agents. “It’s better in my view to act sooner rather than later, before any tragedy occurs,” said Chief Judge Harvey Bartle of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He added that the records will still be available at the courthouse. “We’re not going to have secret documents.” (7/24/07)