Opinion ID: 574278
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Appellant's Motion to Unseal the Record

Text: 46 On motion of appellees, the district court sealed the entire record in this case, with the exception of appellant's complaint. In a brief order filed December 12, 1990, the district court found that sealing the record was necessary 47 in order to protect from public scrutiny the conduct of peer review activities within a health care facility. Such protection is necessary in order to promote and protect the peer review process in the health care industry, which in turn promotes improvement in health care.... [B]ecause every pleading in this case contains references to peer review actions and materials, the Court believes that the more limited action of issuing a protective order to cover the peer review materials would have the same effect as sealing the entire case. 48 Johnson v. Greater Southeast Community Hosp. Corp., No. 90-1992, Order at 2 (D.D.C. Dec. 12, 1990). Appellant has asked us to unseal the record. 49 [T]he decision as to access [to judicial records] is one best left to the sound discretion of the trial court, a discretion to be exercised in light of the relevant facts and circumstances of the particular case. United States v. Hubbard, 650 F.2d 293, 316-17 (D.C.Cir.1980) (quoting Nixon v. Warner Communications, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 599, 98 S.Ct. 1306, 1312, 55 L.Ed.2d 570 (1978)). In Hubbard, we noted that a district court's decision to limit access to judicial records should, however, be informed by this country's strong tradition of access to judicial proceedings. Id. at 317 n. 89. Specifically, we articulated a series of factors that a district court should weigh in determining whether and to what extent a party's interest in privacy or confidentiality of its processes outweighs this strong presumption in favor of public access to judicial proceedings. 14 50 We cannot discern from the district court's brief statement whether the court considered these factors in exercising its discretion to seal the record. Moreover, we do not think it sufficient merely to allude to the Hospital's general interest in keeping peer review processes out of the public eye. That rationale sweeps far too broadly and would encompass all litigation involving public and private institutions that provide essential services to the public. On remand, the district court should reconsider the need for sealing the entire case in light of the Hubbard principles. Should the court determine that any sealing order remains appropriate, it should articulate the precise reasons why, especially in view of appellant's desire for disclosure and an obvious public interest in being informed about the quality of health care. 15 51 In sum, the district court should require appellees to come forward with specific reasons why the record, or any part thereof, should remain under seal. Should the court determine that some kind of sealing order is warranted, that order should be no broader than is necessary to protect those specific interests identified as in need of protection. In addition, any sealing order should not preclude appellant from turning over sealed materials to professional organizations that have a legitimate need to evaluate his credentials. 16