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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    2

    Default How Do You Redact Social Security Number from Court Record in Washington State

    My question involves criminal records for the state of: Washington

    This was a non-traffic misdemeanor and the court was a court of limited jurisdiction (not superior court of Washington). The city attorney (prosecuter's office) entered a non-redacted criminal citation (ticket) when it filed their complaint. It clearly shows my Social Security number on it and can be viewed at any courthouse and on the internet with subscription. I believe my Driver's License number should also not be showing. The ticket had nothing to do with driving. My understanding is there are court rules that are supposed to be followed when entering documents, but the court is not responsible for redacting information. The City Attorney should have done this. How do I fix this? I hope I can just request the City Attorney to do a motion to fix the problem they started.

    I believe (depending on what law/rule I look into), that my telephone number should also be redacted. I understand my name, address and birthdate are really the only necessary pieces of information on a criminal complaint. The newest versions of the criminal citation (ticket) do not even have a field to enter a Social Security Number. My case was from 2006 and the citations at that time did have a field for Social Security number on the top right. It's confusing to me because there are so many rules/laws on personal information. I assume a Superior court rule applies to courts of limited jurisdiction (RULE GR 15 DESTRUCTION, SEALING, AND REDACTION OF COURT RECORDS). I don't even understand why a motion would be necessary, but the court clerks/staff would not redact the document and gave no further direction to me. In this day and age, it would seem to me that it is so obvious a Social Security Number is not public information and a court clerk could redact the document or a judge can review (without a motion) the document and order redaction. The City Attorney neglected to follow court rules and common sense. They caused the problem, and I believe they should fix the problem.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: How Do You Redact Social Security Number from Court Record in Washington State

    When redaction is required, "If a pleading is filed without redaction, the opposing party or identified person may move the Court to order redaction. The court may award the prevailing party reasonable expenses, including attorney fees and court costs, incurred in making or opposing the motion." See GR 31, Access to Court Records.

    (Note the court "may" award expenses, not "must" - and I would be surprised if the court awarded costs against a prosecutor's office.)

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