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Case 1:15-cv-07433-LAP Document 1328-6 Filed 01/05/24 Page 21 of 32
1. The Common Law Test
In determining the applicability of the common-law right of access to a given document,
courts are charged with determining the weight of the presumption of access under the particular
circumstances presented. The presumption applies to a// judicial documents, but the strength of
the presumption varies according to the importance of a given document in the judicial process.
The weight afforded to the presumption of access is “governed by the role of the material at issue
in the exercise of Article III judicial power and the resultant value of such information to those
monitoring the federal courts.” Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onodaga, 435 F.3d 110, 119 (2d Cir.
2006). The Second Circuit has explained that “documents that directly affect an adjudication
and play a significant role in determining litigants’ substantive rights receive the benefit of a
relatively strong presumption, while the public interest in other documents is not as pressing.”
United States v. Graham, 257 F.3d 143, 153 (2d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks and
citations omitted). “Finally, after determining the weight of the presumption of access, the court
must balance competing considerations against it.” Lugosch, 435 F.3d at 120 (internal quotation
marks omitted). “Such countervailing factors include but are not limited to the danger of
impairing law enforcement or judicial efficiency and the privacy interests of those resisting
disclosure.” Jd. (internal quotation marks omitted).
2. The First Amendment Test
Even where the common law right of access is found to be inapplicable, the First
Amendment may still require disclosure of judicial documents. The First Amendment right of
access is “stronger than its common law ancestor and counterpart.” United States v. Erie Cnty.,
763 F.3d 235, 239 (2d Cir. 2014). In deciding First Amendment access claims, the Second
Circuit considers “(a) whether the documents have historically been open to the press and
general public (experience) and (b) whether public access plays a significant positive role in the
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Document Details
| Filename | Giuffre_Maxwell_Batch4_p00150.png |
| File Size | 309.4 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 95.2% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 2,149 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-04 12:41:05.658568 |