Sealing, COVID, and the Fed (Well, the Minneapolis Branch)
From Judge Eric Tostrud (D. Minn.) last week in Maki v. Fed. Reserve Bank of Minneapolis:
On May 21, 2025, the Court docketed an Opinion and Order resolving motions to exclude expert testimony and for summary judgment. [It’s available here. -EV] On May 27, Defendant Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis moved to seal the Opinion and Order. The Bank “seeks to keep confidential three narrow categories of information: (1) details regarding law enforcement shifts and staffing at the Bank, (2) references to staffing of security posts at the Bank, and (3) discussion of modifications to the Bank’s security protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In the Bank’s view, “there are compelling national security and safety reasons” that justify preventing public “disclosure of information that could provide insights and impressions about the Bank’s security, regardless of whether the information is about currently-in-force protocols.” If its motion is granted, the Bank proposes to “submit a confidential copy of the Order with the confidential portions marked for the Court’s review.” If the Court approves of the proposed redactions, then the Bank proposes that the Opinion and Order be republished with the redactions….
“[T]he courts of this country recognize a general right to inspect and copy public records and documents, including judicial records and documents.” “This right
Article from Reason.com
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