Opinion ID: 391003
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Public Use of the Documents

Text: 51 Although the materials at issue are part of the record of the proceedings, their contents were not publicly revealed until the court entered its unsealing order. 96 Previous access is a factor which may weigh in favor of subsequent access. Determining whether, when and under what conditions the public has already had access to court records in a given case cannot of course guide decision concerning whether, when and under what conditions the public should have access as an original matter. However, previous access has been considered relevant to a determination whether more liberal access should be granted to materials formerly properly accessible on a limited basis through legitimate public channels 97 and to a determination whether further dissemination of already accessible materials can be restrained. 98 52 The record in this case reveals no such access to the documents until the district court decided that there was a right in the public to know. 99 There is thus no previous access to weigh in favor of the access granted through the district court's unsealing order. 53