§ 2424 — Backup copies of communications

(a)Required by subpoena or court order; creation; notice to subscriber; destruction. —(1) A subpoena or court order issued under § 2423 of this title may include a requirement that the service provider to whom the request is directed create a backup copy of the contents of the electronic communications sought in order to preserve those communications. Without notifying the subscriber or customer of the subpoena or court order, the service provider shall create a backup copy as soon as practicable consistent with the provider’s regular business practices and shall confirm to the investigative or law-enforcement agency that the backup copy has been made. The service provider shall create a backup copy under this subsection within 2 business days after the day on which the service provider received the subpoena or court order.

(2) Except as provided in § 2425 of this title, the investigative or law-enforcement officer shall give notice to the subscriber or customer within 3 days after the day on which the governmental entity receives confirmation that a backup copy has been made under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(3) The service provider may not destroy the backup copy until the later of:

a. The date of delivery of the information; or

b. The resolution of any proceedings based upon the information provided, including appeals, or any proceedings concerning a subpoena or court order issued under § 2423 of this title.

(4) The service provider shall release the backup copy to the requesting investigative or law-enforcement officer no sooner than 14 days after the day on which the officer gives notice to the subscriber or customer, if the service provider:

a. Has not received notice from the subscriber or customer that the subscriber or customer has challenged the officer’s request; or,

b. Has not initiated proceedings to challenge the officer’s request.

(5) An investigative or law-enforcement officer may seek to require the creation of a backup copy under paragraph (a)(1) of this section if the officer determines that there is reason to believe that notification to the subscriber or customer under § 2423 of this title of the existence of the subpoena or court order will result in destruction of or tampering with evidence. Such a determination under this paragraph is not subject to challenge by the subscriber or customer or service provider.

(b)Quashing subpoena; vacating court order. —(1) Within 14 days after a subscriber or customer receives notice from an investigative or law-enforcement officer under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the subscriber or customer may file a motion to quash the subpoena or vacate the court order. The subscriber or customer shall serve a copy of the motion on the investigative or law-enforcement officer and give written notice of the challenge to the service provider. A motion to vacate a court order shall be filed in the court that issued the order. Any motion to quash a subpoena shall be filed in the Superior Court. Any motion or application under this subsection shall contain an affidavit or sworn statement averring:

a. That the applicant is a customer of or subscriber to the service from which the contents of electronic communications maintained for the applicant have been sought; and

b. The applicant’s reasons for believing that the records sought are not relevant to a legitimate law-enforcement inquiry or that there has not been substantial compliance with this chapter in some other respect.

(2) The applicant shall serve a copy of the motion or application on the investigative or law-enforcement officer in accordance with the Rules of the Superior Court.

(3) If the court finds that the applicant has complied with paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, the court shall order the investigative or law-enforcement officer to file a sworn response, which may be filed in camera if the investigative or law-enforcement officer includes in the response the reasons which make an in camera review appropriate.

a. If the court is unable to determine the motion or application on the basis of the parties“ initial allegations and response, the court may conduct additional proceedings as it deems appropriate.

b. All such proceedings shall be completed and the motion or application decided as soon as practicable after the filing of the investigative or law-enforcement officer’s response.

(c)Findings of the court on application to quash. —(1) If the court finds that the applicant is not the subscriber or customer for whom the communications sought by the investigative or law-enforcement officer are maintained or that there is a reason to believe that the law-enforcement inquiry is legitimate and that the communications sought are relevant to that inquiry, the court shall deny the motion or application and order the subpoena or court order to be enforced.

(2) If the court finds that the applicant is the subscriber or customer for whom the communications sought by the investigative or law-enforcement officer are maintained and that there is no reason to believe that the communications sought are relevant to a legitimate law-enforcement inquiry or that there has not been substantial compliance with this chapter, the court shall order the subpoena to be quashed or the court order to be vacated.

(d)Nature of order; no interlocutory appeal. —A court order denying a motion or application under this subsection is not a final order and no interlocutory appeal may be taken by the customer.