Robert High v. NDOC, et al.

Opinion

ROBERT HIGH, Case No.: 2:23-cv-00847-APG-DJA

Plaintiff Order Granting (1) Motion to Seal, and (2) Motion to Extend Time v. [ECF Nos. 93, 105] NDOC, et al.,

Defendants

The defendants move to seal plaintiff Robert High’s medical records. Generally, the public has a right to inspect and copy judicial records. Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006). Such records are presumptively publicly accessible. Id. Consequently, a party seeking to seal a judicial record bears the burden of overcoming this strong presumption. Id. For “most judicial records,” the party seeking to seal the record must articulate “compelling reasons supported by specific factual findings [that] outweigh the general history of access and the public policies favoring disclosure.” Pintos v. Pac. Creditors Ass’n, 605 F.3d 665, 678 (9th Cir. 2010). This court and others within the Ninth Circuit have recognized that the need to protect medical privacy qualifies as a “compelling reason” for sealing records because a person’s medical records contain sensitive and private information about their health. See, e.g., Moreno v. Adamson, No. 3:19-cv-0330-MMD-CLB, 2021 WL 76722, at *2 (D. Nev. Jan. 7, 2021) (citing cases). Consequently, I grant the motion to seal. I THEREFORE ORDER that the defendants’ motion to seal (ECF No. 93) is 1 I FURTHER ORDER that plaintiff Robert High’s motion to extend time (ECF No. 105) GRANTED. High’s deadline to file a reply to his motion for summary judgment is extended May 10, 2026. DATED this 23rd day of March, 2026. 5 (IEA 6 ANDREW P.GORDON sits 7 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

8 9 1]