# Wise Words from Third Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas as to Access to Court Records

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/wise-words-from-third-circuit-judge-stephanos-bibas-as-to-access-to-court-records/
- Published: 2026-11-04T19:16:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T04:41:35+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/volokh/2026/11/04/wise-words-from-third-circuit-judge-stephanos-bibas-as-to-access-to-court-records/
- Topics: Politics

## Key points

- Judge Bibas supports a proposed rule on sealing court records.
- He says existing access protections can be ineffective.
- A car company sought to seal nearly 3,000 pages.

## Summary

Third Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas has backed a proposed federal civil procedure rule that would set out clearer standards for sealing court records. He argues that public access helps deter wrongdoing, scrutinise government and let people assess the reasoning behind judicial decisions, but that existing protections often fail in practice.

Bibas describes a class action against a car company in which it sought to seal ten volumes of appeal appendices, nearly 3,000 pages, citing competitive concerns. He found the request appeared overbroad, including testimony based on mechanics’ work and the company’s public statements, and rejected it without prejudice so the company could make a narrower request. The article says sealing requests often go unopposed because the costs of excessive secrecy fall on the public and future litigants.

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