**ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF SEALED DOCUMENTS FOR ATTORNEYS ONLY**
(Not to be used by Pro Se Filers. All pro se filers, please access your filing portal via this link: Electronic Submission For Pro Se Filers – U.S. District Court)
This electronic dropbox is to be used by attorneys who:
- Are admitted to practice OR authorized by the court to appear pro hac vice in a pending matter,
- Are attempting to file sealed pleadings with the court.
This dropbox is not to be used by ATTORNEYS who:
- Are authorized to file electronically but are experiencing technical difficulties with filing unsealed pleadings.
- Are not admitted to practice in The Western District of Texas or not authorized to appear pro hac vice in a pending matter.
Key requirements:
- All pleadings must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Local Court Rules as well as in compliance with Standing Orders entered by the presiding judge.
- Service of pleadings filed in the electronic drop box must be performed by the filing party and method of service MUST be included in your certificate of service.
- All documents must be complete and in pdf format.
What happens next:
- You will not receive a file-stamped copy of your document.
- All sealed orders entered by the court will be noticed to parties via box.com.
- Any pleadings submitted that do not comply with the Federal and Local Rules and Standing Orders will be rejected by the court.
For attorneys needing to open a new cause of action under seal in the Western District of Texas, please contact the appropriate divisional office for further instructions. A listing of phone numbers can be found under the Court Info tab of our website www.txwd.uscourts.gov.
Please direct all questions to the CM/ECF help desk email: txwd_ecf_help@txwd.uscourts.gov