UNITED STATES v. UNDER SEAL (2020)

Appellant appeals the district court's orders denying the motion to seek First Step Act relief under a pseudonym, granting the motion to withdraw the First Step Act motion, and denying the motion to seal docket entry 30 and the First Step Act motion. In the informal brief, Appellant only challenges the denial of the motion to seal docket entry 30. Therefore, Appellant has forfeited appellate review of the other rulings. See 4th Cir. R. 34(b); Jackson v. Lightsey, 775 F.3d 170, 177 (4th Cir. 2014) (“The informal brief is an important document; under Fourth Circuit rules, our review is limited to issues preserved in that brief.”).

Our review of the record on appeal convinces us that the district court should have granted the motion to seal docket entry 30. See United States v. Doe, 962 F.3d 139, 146 (4th Cir. 2020) (providing First Amendment standard); United States v. Harris, 890 F.3d 480, 492 (4th Cir. 2018) (providing common law standard). Accordingly, we vacate the portion of the district court's order denying the motion to seal docket entry 30 and remand with instructions to seal docket entry 30 and all other docket entries dated October 15, 2007. We otherwise affirm both orders, deny Appellant's sealed motion, and dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.