A judge recently ordered Apple to help bypass an iPhone passcode in the trial of an alleged Boston gang member, according to newly-unsealed documents obtained by NBC News.

"To the extent that data on the Device is encrypted, Apple may provide a copy of the encrypted data to law enforcement but Apple is not required to attempt to decrypt, or otherwise enable law enforcement's attempts to access any encrypted data," the judge said, suggesting that the FBI should be provided with the unlock code for the phone.

Apple has yet to file an opposition to the Boston case, but it comes on the heels of hotly-contested legal battles over other phones.

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday said it will move ahead with a separate appeal of a court ruling blocking the government from forcing Apple to help unlock an iPhone in a different drug case in New York.