United States v. Michael J. Hickey, Mark A. Hopkinson

SETH, Circuit Judge.

The question presented for decision is whether the common law right of access to court records extends to the sealed plea bargain of a criminal defendant now enrolled in the witness protection program of the United States Marshal’s Service.

Mark A. Hopkinson brings this appeal from an order of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming denying him access to the court file of one Michael J. Hickey. The file contains the details of Mr. Hickey's plea bargain on federal charges stemming from a bombing incident. The court sealed the file at the request of the…