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Order Granting Motion to Seal Exhibits — United States v. Walker (W.D. Wash., Document 59)

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Order Granting Motion to Seal Exhibits, filed March 18, 2024 as Document 59 in United States v. Danni Walker, Case No. 2:22-cr-00105-LK, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle. The Court acts on Defendant Danni Walker's motion to seal Exhibits 3 and 4 to her sentencing memorandum, which the motion describes as containing sensitive and confidential information. The order states that the Government did not file an opposition and that the exhibits contain sensitive and confidential medical information. The Court finds that protecting Ms. Walker's medical privacy is a compelling interest and that there are no less restrictive means. It grants the motion and states that the exhibits may remain under seal, with the order dated the 18th day of March, 2024.

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“Order Granting Motion to Seal Exhibits — United States v. Walker (W.D. Wash., Document 59).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/court-filing-w-d-wash-no-2-22-cr-00105-dkt-59-w-d-wash-3df287fafd/, SHA-256 a3120579878b57965fb3d01620d0267fd90eb0eae669163c0837729b3f7a57a1.

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                Case 2:22-cr-00105-LK Document 59 Filed 03/18/24 Page 1 of 2




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                                UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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                               WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
                                         AT SEATTLE
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        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                            CASE NO. 2:22-cr-00105-LK
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                               Plaintiff,                    ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO
12              v.                                           SEAL EXHIBITS
13      DANNI WALKER,
14                             Defendant.

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16          This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Danni Walker’s motion to seal exhibits.

17   Dkt. No. 46. Ms. Walker moves to seal Exhibits 3 and 4 to her sentencing memorandum, which

18   contain “sensitive and confidential information.” Id. at 1; see also Dkt. Nos. 48, 48-1. The

19   Government did not file an opposition to the motion. For the reasons set forth, the Court grants

20   Ms. Walker’s motion.

21          “Historically, courts have recognized a ‘general right to inspect and copy public records

22   and documents, including judicial records and documents.’” Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of

23   Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Nixon v. Warner Commc’ns, Inc., 435

24   U.S. 589, 597 & n.7 (1978)). District courts therefore “start with a strong presumption in favor of


     ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO SEAL EXHIBITS - 1
                Case 2:22-cr-00105-LK Document 59 Filed 03/18/24 Page 2 of 2




 1   access to court records.” Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 331 F.3d 1122, 1135 (9th Cir.

 2   2003). Despite the public’s right to access documents in criminal proceedings, a document may

 3   remain under seal when (1) sealing a document serves a compelling interest (2) that is substantially

 4   likely to be harmed if the document is not sealed, and (3) there are no less restrictive alternatives

 5   for protecting the interest. See United States v. Parson, No. 3:15-cr-05262-DGE, 2002 WL

 6   558221, at *2 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 24, 2022) (citing United States v. Doe, 870 F.3d 991, 998 (9th

 7   Cir. 2017)).

 8          The exhibits that Ms. Walker seeks to seal contain her sensitive and confidential medical

 9   information. Dkt. No. 48 at 2–6; Dkt. No. 48-1 at 2–4. Protecting Ms. Walker’s medical privacy

10   serves as a compelling interest that would be harmed by public disclosure. See, e.g., Cont’l Med.

11   Transp. LLC v. Health Care Serv. Corp., No. C20-0115-JCC, 2021 WL 2072524, at *4 (W.D.

12   Wash. May 24, 2021) (sealing medical records); Parson, 2022 WL 558221, at *3 (finding

13   compelling reasons to seal medical records to protect the defendant’s privacy). There are no less

14   restrictive means of protecting Ms. Walker’s privacy.

15          The Court therefore GRANTS the motion to seal, Dkt. No. 46, and the exhibits, Dkt. Nos.

16   48, 48-1, may remain under seal.

17          Dated this 18th day of March, 2024.

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                                                           A
19                                                         Lauren King
                                                           United States District Judge
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     ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO SEAL EXHIBITS - 2

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