# Justice Manual § 1-18.200: Settlement Transparency

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.200

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 1-18.200
- **Heading:** Settlement Transparency
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 1: Organization and Functions / 1-18.000 - General Civil Settlement Principles / Justice Manual § 1-18.200

## Text

“It is the policy of the Department of Justice that, in any civil matter in which the Department is representing the interests of the United States or its agencies, it will not enter into final settlement agreements or consent decrees that are subject to confidentiality provisions, nor will it seek or concur in the sealing of such documents.”  28 C.F.R. § 50.23.  While there may be “rare” exceptions to this policy that may be invoked only by certain Department officials, see id., as a general rule, civil settlements are subject to the principles of openness in judicial proceedings.

[new April 2018]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 1-18.100 General Civil Settlement Principles](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 1-18.200 Settlement Transparency](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 1-18.300 Tax Consequences of Settlements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 1-18.400 Civil Settlement Press Releases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 1-18.500 Resolutions of Affirmative Civil Enforcement Matters Against Business Organizations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.500.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S1-18.200. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.