Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cr-00087/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cr-00087-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Nicholas Michael Teausant
Defendant
USA
Plaintiff

Document Text:

1 CIPA PROTECTIVE ORDER

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BENJAMIN B. WAGNER 

United States Attorney 

JEAN M. HOBLER 

JASON HITT 

Assistant United States Attorney 

501 I Street, Suite 10-100 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

Telephone: (916) 554-2700 

Facsimile: (916) 554-2900 

ANDREW SIGLER 

Trial Attorney, National Security Division 

U. S. Department of Justice 

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20530 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

United States of America 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

NICHOLAS MICHAEL TEAUSANT, 

 aka, Assad, 

 Defendants. 

CASE NO. 2:14-CR-00087 JAM 

PROTECTIVE ORDER UNDER THE CLASSIFIED 

INFORMATION PROCEDURES ACT 

This matter comes before the Court upon the parties’ Joint Motion for Protective Order to 

prevent the unauthorized use, disclosure or dissemination of classified national security information and 

documents that will be reviewed by or made available to, or are otherwise in the possession of, defense 

counsel in this case. 

Pursuant to the authority granted under section 3 of the Classified Information Procedures Act, 

18 U.S.C. App. 3 (2006) (“CIPA”); the Security Procedures established pursuant to Pub. L. 96-456, 94 

Stat. 2025, by the Chief Justice of the United States for the Protection of Classified Information 

(reprinted following CIPA § 9) (hereinafter the “Security Procedures”); the Federal Rules of Criminal 

Case 2:14-cr-00087-JAM Document 33 Filed 08/20/14 Page 1 of 10
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Procedure 16(d) and 57; the general supervisory authority of the Court; and, in order to protect the 

national security, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 

1. The Court finds that this case will involve classified national security information, the 

storage, handling, and control of which, by law or regulation, requires special security precautions, and 

access to which requires a security clearance and a need-to-know. 

2. The purpose of this Protective Order (“Order”) is to establish the procedures that must be 

followed by all counsel of record, their designated employees, all other counsel involved in this case, 

translators for the defense, and all other individuals who receive access to classified information or 

documents in connection with this case. 

3. The procedures set forth in this Order and CIPA shall apply to all pre-trial, trial, posttrial, and appellate aspects of this case; and may be modified from time to time by further order of the 

Court acting under Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 16(d), sections 3 and 9 of CIPA, and this 

Court’s inherent supervisory authority to ensure a fair and expeditious trial. 

DEFINITIONS 

4. As used herein, the terms “classified national security information and documents,” 

“classified information,” “classified documents,” and “classified material” refer to: 

 A. Any classified document or information that has been classified by any Executive 

Branch agency in the interest of national security or pursuant to Executive Order 13526, as amended, or 

its predecessors, as “CONFIDENTIAL,” or “SECRET” or “TOP SECRET” or any information 

contained in or derived from such documents; 

 B. Any document or information, regardless of its physical form or characteristics, 

now or formerly in the possession of a private party, which has been derived from a United States 

Government classified document, information, or material; 

 C. Classified information conveyed verbally to defense counsel; 

 D. Any document or information, including verbal information, which the defense 

counsel have been notified orally or in writing contains classified information; 

 E. Any information, regardless of place or origin and including “foreign government 

information” as that term is defined in Executive Order 13526, as amended, or its predecessors, or that 

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refers or relates to national security or intelligence matters, that could reasonably be believed to contain 

classified information. 

5. The words “documents,” “information,” and “material” shall include, but are not limited 

to, all written or printed matter of any kind, formal or informal, including originals, conforming copies 

and non-conforming copies (whether different from the original by reason of notation made on such 

copies or otherwise), and further include, but are not limited to: 

 A. Papers, correspondence, memoranda, notes, letters, reports, summaries, 

photographs, maps, charts and graphs, interoffice and intra-office communications, notations of any sort 

concerning conversations, meetings or other communications, bulletins, teletypes, telegrams and 

telefacsimiles, invoices, worksheets and drafts, alterations, modifications, changes, and amendments of 

any kind to the foregoing; 

 B. Graphic records or representations of any kind, including but not limited to 

photographs, charts, graphs, microfiche, microfilm, videotapes, sound recordings of any kind, and 

motion pictures; 

 C. Electronic, mechanical or electric records of any kind, including but not limited to 

tapes, cassettes, disks, recordings, films, typewriter ribbons, word processing or other computer tapes or 

disks, and all manner of electronic data processing storage; and 

 D. Any form of document reflecting information acquired orally or verbally. 

6. “Access to classified information” means having access to, reviewing, reading, learning 

or otherwise coming to know in any manner any classified information. 

7. “Secure Area” shall mean a physical facility approved by the Classified Information 

Security Officer (CISO) for the storage, handling, and control of classified information. 

HANDLING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION 

8. All classified documents or material and the information contained therein shall remain 

classified unless the documents or material bear a clear indication that they have been declassified by the 

agency or department that is the originating agency (hereinafter the “Originating Agency”) of the 

document, material, or information contained therein. 

9. Classified Information Security Officer. In accordance with the provisions of CIPA and 

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the Security Procedures, the Court designates Winfield S. “Scooter” Slade as Classified Information 

Security Officer (“CISO”) for this case, and Jennifer H. Campbell, Branden M. Forsgren, Christine E. 

Gunning, Daniel O. Hartenstine, , Maura L. Peterson, Michael P. Macisso, Carli V. Rodriguez-Feo and 

Harry J. Rucker as Alternate Classified Information Security Officers for the purpose of providing 

security arrangements necessary to protect from unauthorized disclosure any classified information to 

be made available in connection with this case. Defense counsel shall seek guidance from the CISO 

with regard to appropriate storage, handling, transmittal, and use of classified information. 

10. Government Attorneys. The Court has been advised that the Government attorneys 

working on this case, Assistant United States Attorneys Jean M. Hobler and Jason Hitt, and Department 

of Justice, National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney D. Andrew Sigler, and 

their respective supervisors (collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Government Attorneys”), have 

the requisite security clearances for access to the classified information that relates to this case. 

11. Protection of Classified Information. The Court finds that, in order to protect the 

classified information involved in this case, only the Government Attorneys, appropriately cleared 

Department of Justice employees, personnel of the Originating Agency, defense counsel, employees of 

defense counsel, or translators employed by defense counsel, shall have access to the classified 

information in this case. 

 A. Defense counsel, employees of defense counsel or defense translators may obtain 

access to classified documents or information only if such person has: 

 1. Received the necessary security clearance at the appropriate level of 

classification, through or confirmed by the Classified Information Security Officer; 

 2. Received permission of the Court, either through this Order (for those 

named or listed in paragraph 12 below) or by a separate Court order upon showing of a need-to-know. 

 3. Signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the form attached 

hereto, agreeing to comply with the terms of this Order. 

 B. Before receipt of any classified information, defense counsel shall file originals of 

the executed MOU with the Court and CISO under seal and serve such document upon the Government. 

 C. The substitution, departure or removal for any reason from this case of counsel for 

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a defendant, or anyone associated with the defense as an employee or otherwise, shall not release that 

person from the provisions of this Order or the Memorandum of Understanding executed in connection 

with this Order; and 

12. Defense Counsel. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 11, the following attorney(s) for 

the defense and their approved employee(s) and translator(s) (collectively referred to hereinafter as “the 

Defense”), shall be given access to classified information as required by the Government’s discovery 

obligations: Matthew Scoble and Benjamin Galloway. Any additional person whose assistance the 

Defense reasonably requires may have access to classified information in this case only after obtaining 

from the Court -- with sufficient notice to the Government -- an approval for access to the appropriate 

level of classification on a need-to-know basis, and after satisfying the other requirements described in 

this Order for access to classified information. The CISO will expeditiously process any additional 

applications for security clearances necessitated under the provisions of this paragraph. 

13. Secure Area of Review. The CISO shall arrange for an appropriately approved Secure 

Area for use by the Defense. The CISO shall establish procedures to assure that the Secure Area is 

accessible to the Defense during normal business hours and at other times upon reasonable request as 

approved by the CISO in consultation with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Secure Area shall contain a 

separate working area for the Defense, and will be outfitted with any secure office equipment requested 

by the Defense that is reasonable and necessary to the preparation of the defense in this case. The CISO, 

in consultation with defense counsel, shall establish procedures to assure that the Secure Area may be 

maintained and operated in the most efficient manner consistent with the protection of classified 

information. No documents or other material containing classified information may be removed from 

the Secure Area unless authorized by the CISO. The secure area shall not be accessible to the 

Government Attorneys. The CISO shall not reveal to the Government the content of any conversations 

he or she may hear among the Defense, nor reveal the nature of documents being reviewed by them, nor 

the work generated by them. In addition, the presence of the CISO shall not operate to waive, limit, or 

otherwise render inapplicable, the attorney-client or work product privilege. 

14. Filings with the Court. Until further order of this Court, any motion, memorandum, or 

other document filed by the Defense that defense counsel knows, or has reason to believe, contains 

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classified information in whole or in part, or any document the proper classification of which defense 

counsel is unsure, shall be filed under seal with the Court through the CISO or his designee. Any 

pleading filed under seal with the CISO, or his designee, shall be marked: 

 Filed With The Classified 

 Information Security Officer 

 In Camera 

 Under Seal 

and shall include an introductory statement that it is being filed under seal pursuant to this Order, but 

need not be accompanied by a separate motion to seal. The date and time of physical submission to the 

CISO or his designee shall be considered as the date and time of court filing. The CISO shall promptly 

examine the document and, in consultation with representatives of the appropriate Government agencies, 

determine whether the document contains classified information. If the CISO determines that the 

document contains classified information, he or she shall ensure that the classified portions of the 

document, and only those portions, are marked with the appropriate classification marking and that the 

document remains under seal. All portions of any document filed by the Defense that do not contain 

classified information shall immediately be unsealed by the CISO and placed in the public record. The 

CISO shall make arrangement for the prompt delivery under seal to the Court and counsel for the 

Government any document to be filed by the Defense that contains classified information. At the time 

of making a physical submission to the CISO, or his designee, defense counsel shall file on the public 

record in the CM/ECF system a notice of filing. The notice should contain only the case caption and an 

unclassified title of the filing. 

15. Any document filed by the Government containing classified informationshall be filed 

under seal with the Court through the CISO or his designee. Pleadings filed under seal with the CISO, 

or his designee, shall be marked: 

 Filed With The Classified 

 Information Security Officer 

 In Camera 

 Under Seal 

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and shall include in the introductory paragraph a statement that the item is being filed under seal 

pursuant to this Order, but need not be accompanied by a separate motion to seal. The date and time of 

physical submission to the CISO shall be considered the date and time of filing. Unless the pleading is 

filed “EX PARTE,” the CISO shall make arrangement for the prompt delivery under seal to the Court 

and defense counsel any document to be filed by the Government that contains classified information. 

At the time of making a physical submission to the CISO, or his designee, defense counsel shall file on 

the public record in the CM/ECF system a notice of filing. The notice should contain only the case 

caption and an unclassified title of the filing. 

16. Sealing of Records: The CISO shall maintain a separate sealed record for those pleadings 

containing classified materials and retain such record for purposes of later proceedings or appeal. 

17. Access to Classified Information. The Defense shall have access to classified information 

only as follows: 

 A. All classified information produced by the Government to the Defense, in 

discovery or otherwise, and all classified information possessed, created or maintained by the Defense, 

shall be stored, maintained and used only in the Secure Area established by the CISO; 

 B. The Defense shall have free access to the classified information made available to 

them in the Secure Area, and shall be allowed to take notes and prepare documents with respect to those 

materials; 

 C. The Defense shall not copy or reproduce any classified information in any form 

except with the approval of the CISO, or in accordance with the procedures established by the CISO for 

the operation of the Secure Area; 

 D. All documents prepared by the Defense (including, without limitation, pleadings 

or other documents intended for filing with the Court) that do or may contain classified information, 

shall be transcribed, recorded, typed, duplicated, copied or otherwise prepared only by persons who have 

received an appropriate approval for access to classified information, and in the Secure Area on 

approved word processing equipment, and in accordance with the procedures approved by the CISO. 

All such documents and any associated materials (such as notes, drafts, copies, , electronic media , 

exhibits, etc.) containing classified information shall be maintained in the Secure Area, unless and until 

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the CISO determines that those documents or associated materials are unclassified in their entirety. 

None of these materials shall be disclosed to counsel for the Government; 

 E. The Defense shall discuss classified information only within the Secure Area or in 

another area authorized by the CISO and shall not discuss or attempt to discuss classified information 

over any standard commercial telephone instrument, office intercommunication system, or any other 

method of communication not specifically authorized by the CISO; and 

 F. The Defense shall not disclose, without prior approval of the Court, any classified 

information to any person not authorized pursuant to this Order, including the defendants and defense 

witnesses, except the Court, court personnel, and the Government Attorneys who have been identified 

by the CISO as having the appropriate clearances and the need-to-know that information. Counsel for 

the Government shall be given an opportunity to be heard in response to any request by the Defense for 

disclosure of classified information to a person not named in this Order. Any person approved by the 

Court for disclosure under this paragraph shall be required to obtain the appropriate security clearance, 

to sign and submit to the Court the Memorandum of Understanding appended to this Order, and to 

comply with all terms and conditions of this Order. If preparation of the Defense requires that classified 

information be disclosed to persons not named in this Order, then, upon approval by the Court and upon 

prior notice to the Government, the CISO shall promptly seek to obtain security clearances for them at 

the request of defense counsel. 

18. Procedures for the use or disclosure of classified information by the Defense in any 

manner in connection with any trial or pretrial proceeding shall be those provided in sections 5, 6 and 8 

of CIPA and this Protective Order. To facilitate Defense filings of notices required under CIPA Section 

5, the CISO shall make arrangements with the appropriate agencies for a determination of the 

classification level, if any, of materials or information either within the possession of the Defense or 

about which the Defense has knowledge and which the Defense intends to use in any way at any trial or 

pretrial proceeding. Nothing submitted by the Defense to the CISO pursuant to this paragraph shall be 

made available to counsel for the Government unless so ordered by the Court, or so designated by the 

Defense. Should the CISO confirm that the material or information is classified and the Defense intend 

to use such classified information, the Defense shall file a CIPA Section 5 notice. The Defense shall not 

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use, disclose or cause to be disclosed any classified information in any manner in connection with any 

trial or pretrial proceeding contrary to this Order or other order of this Court, unless and until the 

procedures under CIPA have been followed or waived by the Government in writing. 

19. Information in the public domain is ordinarily not classified. However any confirmation, 

corroboration, or denial of such information that is based on classified information is subject to the 

provisions of CIPA. Therefore, any attempt by defendants or defense counsel to elicit such a 

confirmation, corroboration, or denial at trial, or in connection with any pre-trial or other proceeding in 

this case, shall be governed by CIPA and this Order. 

20. Violations of this Order. Unauthorized use or disclosure of classified information may 

constitute violations of United States criminal laws. In addition, violation of the terms of this Order 

shall be immediately brought to the attention of the Court, and may result in a charge of contempt of 

Court and possible referral for criminal prosecution. Any breach of this Order may result in the 

termination of a person’s access to classified information. Persons subject to this Order are advised that 

direct or indirect unauthorized use, disclosure, retention or negligent handling of classified information 

could cause serious damage, and in some cases exceptionally grave damage, to the national security of 

the United States, or may be used to the advantage of a foreign nation against the interests of the United 

States. This Order is to ensure that those authorized to receive classified information will never divulge 

the classified information disclosed to them to anyone who is not authorized to receive it, or otherwise 

use the classified information without prior written authorization from the Originating Agency and in 

conformity with this Order. 

21. All classified information to which the Defense has access in this case is now and will 

remain the property of the Government. The defense counsel, defense counsel employees, defense 

translators, and anyone else who receives classified information pursuant to this Order shall return all 

such classified information in their possession obtained through discovery from the Government in this 

case or for which they are responsible because of access to classified information, upon demand of the 

CISO. The notes, summaries and other documents prepared by the Defense that do or may contain 

classified information shall remain at all times in the custody of the CISO for the duration of this case. 

At the conclusion of all proceedings, including any final appeals, all such notes, summaries and other 

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documents are to be destroyed by the CISO in the presence of defense counsel if so requested. 

22. Declassified Information. As used herein, the term “declassified information” refers to 

any and all classified information, which may be declassified pursuant to the procedures outlined in 

CIPA and this Order. Any declassified information will be treated by the defense as “Sensitive 

Discovery” under the Amended Protective Order entered February 25, 2011. 

23. Nothing in this Order shall preclude the Government from seeking a further protective 

order pursuant to CIPA and/or Rule 16(d) as to particular items of discovery material. 

24. A copy of this Order shall be issued forthwith to counsel for the defendants, who shall be 

responsible for advising the defendants and defense counsel employees of the contents of this Order. 

It is SO ORDERED. 

Dated: 8/19/2014 /s/ John A. Mendez

 JOHN A. MENDEZ

U.S. District Judge 

Case 2:14-cr-00087-JAM Document 33 Filed 08/20/14 Page 10 of 10