Opinion ID: 3066075
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Classified Material in Seda’s Possession

Text: Before trial, Seda’s counsel came into possession of a classified document. Counsel took appropriate steps to safeguard access and negotiated an agreement to turn the material over to a Classified Information Security Officer for UNITED STATES V. SEDAGHATY 43 placement in a secure facility in Washington, D.C. After the district court issued what Seda terms a “gag order”— prohibiting counsel from referencing or disclosing the document—Seda sought reconsideration of that order six times. Seda’s counsel also gave notice under CIPA § 5 of its intent to use the classified information at trial. The district court reviewed the material in camera, determined that the material was not relevant to the charges, and denied reconsideration of the protective order.15 Upon reviewing the document and the district court’s in camera determinations with a fresh eye, we affirm the district court’s determination and conclude that there was no violation of CIPA §§ 5–6. See Rewald, 889 F.2d at 847–48 (“[W]e decline [the defendant’s] invitation to undertake an all-encompassing analysis of this issue, and simply confine our review to the relevancy and admissibility of the classified materials. . . .”). The district court’s limited protective order did not violate Seda’s right to counsel or his right to present a defense. See Moussaoui, 591 F.3d at 289 (“The right to communicate with counsel at any point in the proceedings is not absolute.”). The order was justified by compelling national security concerns and the restrictions were limited to a single document that was not relevant to the charges. See Morgan v. Bennett, 204 F.3d 360, 367 (2d Cir. 2000) (“[T]he court should not, absent an important need to protect a 15 Seda also raises a concern that government attorneys or agents participated in the district court’s review of the material that was placed in the secure facility. The records and representations of the Classified Information Security Officers entrusted with the material reflect that no one has accessed the documents except the court and the Classified Information Security Officer on one occasion, and the defense counsel together with the Classified Information Security Officer, on another occasion. 44 UNITED STATES V. SEDAGHATY countervailing interest, restrict the defendant’s ability to consult with his attorney, but . . . when such a need is present and is difficult to fulfill in other ways, a carefully tailored, limited restriction on the defendant’s right to consult counsel is permissible.”).