Anonymous - Page 8

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          anonymous litigation to proceed.  Qualls v. Rumsfeld, 228 F.R.D.            
          8, 10 (D.D.C. 2005) (citing Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), and           
          Doe v. Sullivan, 938 F.2d 1370, 1374 (D.C. Cir. 1991)).                     
               The decision whether to allow parties to proceed anonymously           
          is in the discretion of the trial court.  James v. Jacobson,                
          supra at 238.  A party may generally proceed anonymously when the           
          trial court reasonably determines that the need for anonymity               
          outweighs the prejudice to the opposing party and the general               
          presumption that the parties’ identities are public information.            
          See Does I Thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., supra at 1068.             
          Some factors to be considered in deciding whether a party may               
          proceed anonymously include whether the party challenges                    
          governmental activity, whether the party is required to disclose            
          information of the utmost intimacy, and whether the party is                
          compelled to admit his or her intention to engage in illegal                
          conduct.  Doe v. Stegall, supra at 185.                                     
               Petitioner has a unique need for anonymity in this case.               
          Petitioner fears that physical harm may come to petitioner or               
          petitioner’s family and their lives placed in jeopardy if                   
          petitioner’s identity or financial circumstances were made public           
          in this case.  We weigh this risk of physical harm against the              
          risk of prejudice to respondent and the public interest in                  
          knowing the parties’ identities.  See Does I Thru XXIII v.                  
          Advanced Textile Corp., supra at 1068.  We hold that petitioner             
          may preserve anonymity in the special circumstances of this                 
          proceeding because petitioner’s need for anonymity outweighs                





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