**Record Sealing:** A request for a court order to "seal" the record of a misdemeanor conviction. To be eligible for sealing, the crime must have been committed before a defendant's 18th birthday and the judge must have already granted a "release of penalties" order. A sealing order closes any records related to the case, including conviction, charge, and arrest records. If a judge grants an order to seal the record, in the eyes of the law, the misdemeanor is considered to never have happened.