Defendant DL38 is a placeholder name used by courts when a defendant's true identity is unknown or withheld for safety reasons
When you see "Defendant DL38" on a court docket or legal filing, you are looking at a case where the actual name of the accused person has been replaced with a code. Courts use this practice in situations where revealing the defendant's real identity could create danger — typically in cases involving domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, or crimes against children. The letters and numbers vary by jurisdiction and case type, but the purpose is always the same: to keep the defendant's identity confidential in public records while still allowing the case to proceed through the legal system.
The practice exists because court records are generally public, but some defendants have legitimate safety concerns if their names appear in searchable databases. A victim or witness might face retaliation. A defendant in a human trafficking case might be at risk from their trafficker. A minor defendant might need protection from public identification. Rather than sealing the entire case file — which is a more complex legal process — courts use pseudonyms to balance the public's right to know about court proceedings with the safety needs of the people involved.
Key Takeaways
- Defendant DL38 and similar codes are used when a court decides the defendant's real name should not appear in public records for safety or legal reasons.
- The most common reasons for using a pseudonym are domestic violence cases, crimes involving minors, human trafficking, and cases where the defendant is a minor.
- The actual defendant's identity is known to the court, prosecutors, defense counsel, and the victim — only the public record is anonymized.
- You cannot find out who Defendant DL38 is by searching public records, because that is the point of the pseudonym.
- If you are involved in a case and need to know the defendant's real identity, you must contact the court directly or work through an attorney.
Why courts use pseudonyms instead of sealing records
Sealing a case file — removing it from public access entirely — is a more drastic step that requires a judge to find that the public interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest in open courts. Using a pseudonym is a middle ground. The case remains on the docket, the proceedings are still public, and anyone can attend court hearings. But the defendant's real name does not appear in searchable databases or printed court documents.
This approach preserves the principle of open courts — a cornerstone of the legal system — while protecting people from concrete harms. A domestic violence victim does not have to worry that their abuser's name will appear in a news article about the case. A minor defendant's juvenile record does not follow them into adulthood with a straightforward Google search. A human trafficking survivor does not risk their trafficker finding them through court records.
The trade-off is that members of the public cannot easily find out who is being prosecuted. If you search a court docket and see "State v. Defendant DL38," you will not learn the defendant's identity from that search alone. That is intentional.
When courts assign pseudonyms to defendants
Different jurisdictions have different rules about when a pseudonym is appropriate, but several categories appear consistently. Cases involving domestic violence often use pseudonyms to protect victims and their families from public identification. Cases where the defendant is a minor almost always use pseudonyms, because juvenile records are generally confidential by law. Cases involving child abuse or child sexual abuse use pseudonyms to protect the child victims.
Human trafficking cases frequently use pseudonyms for both defendants and victims. Cases where a defendant has received credible threats or where law enforcement believes public identification would create a serious safety risk may also use pseudonyms. Some jurisdictions use them in cases involving witness protection or undercover operations.
The decision to use a pseudonym is made by a judge, usually at the request of the prosecutor, defense counsel, or the court itself. It is not automatic — the court must find that there is a legitimate reason to withhold the name. Once a pseudonym is assigned, it stays in place throughout the case unless the judge later orders it removed.
Who knows the defendant's real identity
The pseudonym is a public-facing measure only. The defendant's true identity is known to everyone involved in the case: the judge, the prosecutors, the defense attorney, law enforcement, and the victim or their representative. Court files contain the real name, but those files are not open to the general public — only to parties with a legitimate reason to access them.
If you are a victim in a case, your attorney or victim advocate can tell you the defendant's real name. If you are a witness, the prosecutor can provide that information. If you are a family member or have another legitimate connection to the case, you can contact the court or the prosecutor's office and explain your situation. They will determine whether you have a right to know.
The pseudonym system relies on the assumption that most people searching court records are doing so for general information — to see what cases are pending, to understand what happened in a particular courtroom, or to check on a public figure. For those purposes, the pseudonym serves its function. For people with a direct stake in the case, access to the real name is available through proper channels.
How to find information about a case with a pseudonym defendant
If you know a case involves "Defendant DL38" but you need to know more, your options depend on your relationship to the case. If you are the victim, contact the prosecutor's office or your victim advocate — they are required to keep you informed and can provide the defendant's name. If you are a family member of the defendant, contact the defense attorney or the court directly.
If you are a journalist, researcher, or member of the public with a legitimate reason to know the defendant's identity, you can file a motion to unseal or a request for access to the court file. You will need to explain why you need the information and why the public interest in disclosure outweighs the privacy or safety concerns that led to the pseudonym in the first place. The judge will decide whether to grant your request.
If you straightforward want to know what is happening in the case, you can attend the court hearing. Hearings are open to the public, and you will hear the defendant's real name spoken aloud in court, even if it does not appear in the written docket. You can also request a transcript of the hearing, which will contain the defendant's name.
The difference between pseudonyms and sealed records
A pseudonym and a sealed record serve related but different purposes. A pseudonym keeps the defendant's name out of public records while leaving the case itself visible and accessible. A sealed record removes the entire case file from public access — you cannot find it on the docket, you cannot attend hearings, and you cannot get a transcript without a court order.
Sealing is more restrictive and is typically used only in cases where there is a stronger reason to keep everything confidential — for example, cases involving very young children, cases where the defendant was later exonerated, or cases where the victim's safety would be seriously compromised by any public record of the case. Pseudonyms are more common and less restrictive. They allow the case to proceed openly while protecting the defendant's identity from casual public searches.
Some cases use both: a pseudonym in the public docket and a sealed file that contains the defendant's real name and other sensitive details. The level of protection depends on the judge's assessment of the risks involved.
What happens to the pseudonym after the case ends
Once a case is resolved — whether by conviction, acquittal, dismissal, or plea — the pseudonym may remain in place indefinitely. Old court records do not automatically update to show the defendant's real name. This means that years later, someone searching the docket will still see "Defendant DL38" rather than the actual name.
In some jurisdictions, a defendant can petition the court to remove the pseudonym after a certain amount of time has passed or after certain conditions are met — for example, after a conviction has been served or after a juvenile defendant reaches adulthood. But this is not automatic, and the burden is usually on the defendant to request it.
For victims and their families, the pseudonym may provide ongoing protection. A victim of domestic violence may not want their abuser's name to appear in searchable records years after the case is closed, because it could still lead to identification and contact. The pseudonym serves that purpose even after the case is over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out who Defendant DL38 is by searching online?
No. The entire point of the pseudonym is that the defendant's real name does not appear in public records or online databases. If you have a legitimate reason to know the identity — you are a victim, a family member, or a journalist with a strong public interest claim — you must contact the court, the prosecutor, or the defense attorney directly.
Does using a pseudonym mean the defendant is guilty?
No. A pseudonym is used for safety or privacy reasons, not because of guilt or innocence. It can be used in cases that are still pending, cases that result in conviction, and cases that result in acquittal. The pseudonym protects identity; it does not indicate the outcome of the case.
What if I am the defendant and I want my real name back in the records?
You can petition the court to remove the pseudonym. The judge will consider your request and may grant it if circumstances have changed or if enough time has passed. You will need to file a formal motion and may want to work with an attorney to present your case to the judge.
Can a pseudonym be removed if the defendant is found not guilty?
Yes, and in some jurisdictions it is removed automatically or can be removed more easily after an acquittal. The reasoning is that if the defendant was not convicted, there is less reason to protect their identity. However, this is not universal — some courts keep the pseudonym in place even after acquittal if the original safety concerns still explore.
Does the pseudonym explore to all court documents or just the docket?
It typically applies to public-facing documents — the docket, court orders, and documents filed in the public case file. Internal court files and documents shared with parties to the case usually contain the defendant's real name. Transcripts of open court hearings will also contain the real name, because what is said in open court is public.