A party to a case, or a person who has an interest in the protection of information contained in an exhibit offered and/or received in a case (interested person), may request an order or the court upon its own motion may enter a written order that seals or limits access to an exhibit subject to the provisions in § 6-507. (Appendix 1). The order shall indicate the reason(s) for sealing the record and who shall have access to the sealed record.
§ 6-506.Sealing of exhibits.
Article 5: Exhibit Disposition and Review · Last amended November 25, 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lets a party, an interested person, or the court on its own motion enter a written order sealing or limiting access to an exhibit, subject to § 6-507, with the order required to state the reasons for sealing and who may access the sealed record.
Full Text of § 6-506
Amendment History
§ 6-506 adopted November 25, 2020.
Plain-English Summary
Section 6-506 gives courts a formal tool for restricting access to a specific exhibit. A party to the case can ask for a sealing order, and so can any other person who has an interest in protecting the information an exhibit contains — the rule calls this an "interested person." A court can also act on its own, without waiting for anyone to ask.
Whoever initiates it, the result has to be a written order, and that order cannot be a blank check. It has to spell out the reasons for sealing or limiting access, and it has to identify who is allowed to see the sealed record. The section ties directly into § 6-507, which sets the broader framework the request has to work within, including the presumption that many exhibits are public records to begin with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can ask a court to seal an exhibit?
A party to the case, or an interested person who has a stake in protecting information the exhibit contains, can request a sealing order.
Can a judge seal an exhibit without anyone asking?
Yes. The court may enter a sealing or access-limiting order on its own motion.
What does a sealing order have to include?
It must be in writing, state the reasons for sealing or limiting access, and identify who has access to the sealed record.
Does sealing an exhibit override the presumption that exhibits are public?
A sealing order under this section is subject to § 6-507, which sets the standards and procedure for weighing public access against a countervailing interest.
What counts as an "interested person" under this section?
Someone who has an interest in protecting information contained in an exhibit offered or received in the case, even if that person is not a party.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Nebraska. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: sealing court exhibits nebraskamotion to seal exhibitinterested person protective order exhibitlimiting access to trial exhibitwritten order seal exhibit requirements