Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-06945/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-06945-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN DOE,

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF SONOMA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 16-cv-05195-JD

ORDER RE MOTIONS FOR LEAVE 

TO SUE UNDER A PSEUDONYM

Re: Dkt. Nos. 54 in 16-5195, 23 in 17-6945 

JOHN DOE,

Plaintiff,

v.

DANIELLE SANTOS, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 17-cv-06945-JD

Pro se plaintiff John Doe moves for leave to sue under a pseudonym in these related cases. 

Dkt. No. 54 in 16-5195; Dkt. No. 23 in 17-6945. Plaintiff was provisionally allowed to so sue 

with instructions to renew his request once defendants were served. Dkt. No. 6 in 16-5195; Dkt. 

No. 10 in 17-6945. The motions are unopposed.

There is also a strong tradition of transparent litigation in our federal courts. The “use of 

fictitious names runs afoul of the public’s common law right of access to judicial proceedings, and 

Rule 10(a)’s command that the title of every complaint ‘include the names of all the parties.’” 

Does I thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058, 1067 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations 

omitted). “Nevertheless, many federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit, have permitted parties 

to proceed anonymously when special circumstances justify secrecy.” Id. 

In light of the embarrassment plaintiff says he would suffer from disclosure of his identity, 

and because the motions are unopposed, the Court will grant them in part. Plaintiff is directed to 

continue to style his filings in the current “John Doe” format. Plaintiff’s identity will not be 

Case 3:17-cv-06945-JD Document 25 Filed 05/10/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

disclosed to the general public. Plaintiff will be referred to as John Doe in all pleadings and other 

documents related to this litigation, as well as in any proceedings that may be held before this 

Court. Defendants and their attorneys will not disclose plaintiff’s identity to any other person or 

entity except as may be necessary to defend against this action. 

These measures are ordered without prejudice to a future request to disclose plaintiff’s true 

name or to the Court deciding that these cases’ circumstances no longer warrant them.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 10, 2019

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

Case 3:17-cv-06945-JD Document 25 Filed 05/10/19 Page 2 of 2