United States District Judge Martin Carlson approved a confidentiality order regarding Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage Jr. and the women who sued him in federal court.

Signed Nov. 12, the order gives the right to designate items as confidential. Those include personnel and employment files, any financial information, other than salaries, of the defendants, identifying information such as Social Security numbers and bank account identification, medical, psychiatric and or psychological information and plaintiff’s first and or last name pending the court’s ruling on the designation.

All confidential information is limited to use by prosecution or defense of the case and can’t be used for another purpose unless the parties agree or by order of the court. A nondisclosure agreement must be signed by outside experts or consultants hired by counsel and others, according to the agreement.

A certificate of confidentiality must be signed by those deposed and their legal counsel. No document labeled confidential shall be filed on the court’s electronic filing system.

The confidentiality order will remain in effect after the case unless the court modifies the order or by the written agreement of the parties. At the end of the lawsuit, all confidential material must be destroyed except for attorneys who may keep a record of any document containing confidential information, the order says. A provision is made for the parties if they wish to keep confidential information, but they must request it.

Halcovage has been sued in court by four women (all county employees), who have accused him of sexual harassment. He denies the accusations. An amended complaint was also recently filed that lists employment actions that took place after the initial suit.