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Carlson Gray Swafford v. Richard Evangelista - Motion to Seal IFP Financial Records Order

The US District Court for the Virgin Islands issued an Order addressing Plaintiff Carlson Gray Swafford's Motion to Seal financial records submitted in connection with his In Forma Pauperis (IFP) motions and Motion for Remote Participation filings. Swafford, appearing pro se, sought to seal personal financial documents including bank balances, credit card statements, mortgage records, household budget, spousal income, familial loan information, and a log of over 180 job applications, arguing the documents were compelled by the Court's repeated demands and that the privacy interest is highest when documents are submitted for threshold procedural determinations rather than substantive merits. The Order discusses Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 governing privacy protections for court filings and the Third Circuit's balancing test weighing the common law right of public access against a party's privacy interests. The Order acknowledges the strong presumption of openness in judicial filings and that parties seeking to seal records bear a heavy burden to show the information warrants protection.

Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands v. Election System of the Virgin Islands

The District Court of the Virgin Islands denied a Motion to Intervene filed by three pro se prospective candidates (Shelley A.H. Moorhead, Collister M. Fahie, and Lorelei Monsanto) who sought to challenge whether the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands has legal capacity to bring suit regarding August 2026 primary elections. The Court found the Proposed Intervenors failed to demonstrate a direct, substantial, and legally protectable interest in the litigation and that their claimed injury regarding ballot access was too speculative to confer standing. This ruling preserves the underlying lawsuit concerning whether the Election System of the Virgin Islands must administer the Democratic Party's Election and Certification Plan for statutory primaries.

Cecil Francis v. Doctor Mullens

The United States District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands approved and adopted Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller's Report and Recommendation filed January 17, 2024, recommending transfer of Case No. 3:23-cv-0039 to the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The Court conducted a de novo review of the record and found no error in the Magistrate Judge's determination. The Clerk of Court is ordered to transfer the case and provide certified mail notice to plaintiff Cecil Francis, and the case is ordered closed following transfer.