II. Records Subject to Inspection.

A presumption exists that all court records are subject to public inspection.

    The public right of access to specific court records must be weighed and balanced against nondisclosure interests as established by the Federal and/or New Hampshire Constitution or by statutory provision granting or requiring confidentiality.

    Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the following categories of cases shall not be open to public inspection: juvenile cases (delinquency, CHINS, abuse/neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption); pending or denied application for search or arrest warrants; grand jury records; applications for wire taps and orders thereon; and any other record to be kept confidential by statute, rule or order. Before a court record is ordered sealed, the court must determine if there is a reasonable alternative to sealing the record and must use the least restrictive means of accomplishing the purpose. Once a court record is sealed, it shall not be open to public inspection except by order of the court.

    Any case records not subject to disclosure except upon order of the court shall be kept in a separate section of the court files, accessed only by the court and the clerk's staff.