The judiciary’s privacy policy restricts the publication of certain personal data in documents filed with the court. The policy requires limiting Social Security and financial account numbers to the last four digits, using only initials for the names of minor children, limiting dates of birth to the year and home addresses of witnesses to the city and state of residence. However, if such information is elicited during testimony or other court proceedings, it will become available to the public when the official transcript is filed with the court unless and until it is redacted.

 The better practice is for attorneys and unrepresented parties to avoid introducing this information into the record in the first place. Please take this into account when questioning witnesses or making other statements in court. If a restricted item is mentioned in court, attorneys or unrepresented parties may ask to have it stricken from the record or partially redacted to conform to the privacy policy, or the court may do so on its own motion.