M.F.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MF, Plaintiff, No. C 20-08742 WHA

v.

ANDREW SAUL, ORDER GRANTING

REQUEST TO PROCEED

Defendant.

PSEUDONYMOUSLY

15 Plaintiff, appealing an adverse decision of the Social Security Administration, seeks leave to proceed under her initials, “MF,” to preserve her privacy. Unusual circumstances, the particularities of the subject matter, and the lack of prejudice to the Administrator (who already knows plaintiff’s identity) counsel in plaintiff’s favor. Leave is GRANTED. In general, the public has every right to inspect court records. Nixon v. Warner Commnc’ns, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 597 (1978). Our court of appeals has established a strong presumption in favor of access. The reasons are plain. Public confidence in the administration of justice rests on accountability — knowing to whom courts afford relief, against whom judgments run, and why. See Ctr. for Auto Safety v. Chrysler Grp., 809 F.3d 1092, 1096–97 (9th Cir.…