Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_16-cv-00654/USCOURTS-cand-4_16-cv-00654-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JOHN DOE #1, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

JOHN KERRY, et al., 

Defendants. 

Case No. 16-cv-0654-PJH 

ORDER PROVISIONALLY GRANTING 

LEAVE TO PROCEED UNDER 

PSEUDONYMS 

 Before the court is the application of plaintiffs John Doe #1, John Doe #2, John 

Doe #3, and John Doe #4 (collectively, “plaintiffs”) to proceed under pseudonyms and to 

file under seal. In their complaint, which was filed on February 9, 2016, plaintiffs do not 

use their actual names, arguing that they are “reasonably concerned that they and their 

families will face threats of harassment and physical violence, even death, if their true 

identities are disclosed as a result of their participation in this lawsuit.” 

 The Ninth Circuit has held that “a party may preserve his or her anonymity in 

judicial proceedings in special circumstances when the party’s need for anonymity 

outweighs prejudice to the opposing party and the public’s interest in knowing the party’s 

identity.” Does I through XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058, 1068 (9th Cir. 

2000). The court then set forth the following factors to be considered: (1) the severity of 

the threatened harm, (2) the reasonableness of the anonymous party’s fears, and (3) the 

anonymous party’s vulnerability to such retaliation. Id. After considering those factors, 

the court “must decide whether the public’s interest in the case would be best served by 

requiring that the litigants reveal their identities.” Id. 

 In their application, plaintiffs represent that they “are reasonably concerned about 

the risk of retaliation by the federal government for challenging the International Megan’s 

Case 4:16-cv-00654-PJH Document 7 Filed 02/10/16 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

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Case 4:16-cv-00654-PJH Document 7 Filed 02/10/16 Page 2 of 2