Supreme Court of Missouri
en banc
November 3, 2000
In re:
Repeal of Court Operating Rule 2.045, entitled "Access to Social Security Numbers," of Court Operating Rule 2, entitled "Public Access to Records of the Judicial Department," and in lieu thereof adoption of a new Court Operating Rule 2.045, entitled "Access to Social Security Numbers."
ORDER
1. It is hereby ordered that effective January 1, 2001, Court Operating Rule 2.045 be and the same is hereby repealed and a new Court Operating Rule 2.045 adopted in lieu thereof to read as follows:
RULE 2.045 ACCESS TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS
(a) Official court files. Case records containing social security numbers may be disseminated pursuant to Court Operating Rule 2.02. Court personnel shall not expunge or redact social security numbers that appear in case records.
(b) Case management databases. Social security numbers may be collected and used by the courts for internal purposes such as party identification, compilation of jury lists, collection of fees, fines or restitution. Dissemination of social security numbers appearing in court databases shall be restricted to court personnel and to those state or federal agencies to which the court has a statutory or constitutional duty to disclose, including, but not limited to, division of child support enforcement, social security administration and department of revenue.
(c) Public Inquiries. Except as provided by Court Operating Rule 2.045(a), court personnel shall not release the social security number.
2. The state courts administrator shall provide copies of this order to each appellate chief judge, each presiding circuit judge, each circuit clerk, and such other persons as the administrator deems appropriate.
Day - to - Day
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WILLIAM RAY PRICE, JR. Chief Justice