BB&K’s New Law Guidance for a Well-Informed Start to 2023 -
In Part Four of our “In With the New” series, Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Advanced Records Center (ARC) team covers important new legislation and case law related...more
AB 473 Takes Effect January 1, 2023, recodifying and reorganizing this important statute -
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) was enacted in 1968 to promote public access to public records, while also recognizing...more
BB&K's New Law Guidance for a Happy New Year -
In Part Two of our “In With the New” series, BB&K’s ARC: Advanced Records Center team covers important new legislation and case law related to the California Public Records...more
Takeaways From Unprecedented Public Records Ruling in Getz v. County of El Dorado -
The Third District Court of Appeal recently ruled in favor of a requester who was seeking public records from the County of El Dorado,...more
BB&K to Host Webinar Discussing SB 16 and Agency Duties to Produce Police Records Under Public Records Act -
New police records rules mandating additional disclosures of personnel records will go into effect next year with...more
SB 16 Signed Into Law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on September 30 -
California’s governor signed a package of public safety measures today, including SB 16, which clarifies and expands on the law requiring the disclosure of...more
Gov. Gavin Newsom Must Sign or Veto by October 10 -
The California Legislature approved Sen. Nancy Skinner’s Senate Bill 16 on September 2, putting the question of whether to require disclosure of more police records...more
The Intersection Between Brady Lists, Pitchess Statutes and SB 1421 -
California law enforcement agencies in California are now confronted with the interplay among Brady lists and alerts, the Public Records Act, and...more
Access Depends on if Record Request is from “Elected Official” or “Member of the Public” -
As local public agencies welcome newly elected officials, it can be unclear whether the newcomers are entitled to unfettered access...more
New CPRA Case Law and Legislation for 2021 -
While an expansive array of records can be sought via a California Public Records Act request, the right to inspect public records is not without limits. The CPRA does not give...more
A California Appellate Court Draws a Distinction between the Power of a Court to Rule —“Jurisdiction”— and the Proper Place for a CPRA Suit —“Venue”
Any trial court in the state may have jurisdiction over a California...more
It's the Information, Not the Record, that Must be Considered, Say BB&K's Christine Wood and Isaac Rosen in PublicCEO -
One afternoon in May 2015, six Glendora Police Department officers entered a residence in La Puente,...more
California Public Records Act Provision Permitting Public Agencies to Charge for “Extraction” Analyzed -
Government agencies are prohibited from charging a fee to redact police body camera footage in response to a...more
5/31/2020
/ Body Worn Cameras ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Electronically Stored Information ,
Fees ,
Law Enforcement ,
Police ,
Police Brutality ,
Police Misconduct ,
Public Access Laws ,
Public Records ,
Redacted Documents ,
Request For Information ,
Right To Know ,
State and Local Government ,
Transparency
California Public Agencies Struggle with CPRA Compliance -
Public agencies are likely grappling with California Public Records Act request challenges — especially deadlines and document access limitations — during the...more
Police Records Must Be Disclosed Even if Created or Officer Employed By Different Agency, California Appellate Court Says -
The California Attorney General and Department of Justice must disclose all police misconduct...more
2/12/2020
/ Appeals ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Law Enforcement ,
Police ,
Police Misconduct ,
Police Reports ,
Public Agencies ,
Public Records ,
Request For Information ,
State and Local Government ,
Statutory Interpretation
While the California Legislature included investigatory privilege as an exemption within the California Public Records Act, there are exceptions to this exemption. In this Best Best & Krieger LLP webinar, attorneys Christine...more
1/21/2020
/ Audio Recording ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Criminal Investigations ,
Criminal Records ,
Exceptions ,
Exemptions ,
Law Enforcement ,
Municipalities ,
Public Disclosure ,
Public Records ,
Public Records Act ,
State and Local Government ,
Video Recordings
Part 2: New CPRA Laws for 2020 -
While an expansive array of records can be sought via a California Public Records Act request, the right to inspect public records is not without limits. The CPRA does not give unlimited...more
1/16/2020
/ Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Ballots ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Constructive Possession ,
Exemptions ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Municipalities ,
Public Agencies ,
Public Disclosure ,
Public Records ,
Public Records Act ,
Request For Information ,
San Francisco ,
State and Local Government ,
Undocumented Immigrants
Part 1: New CPRA Laws for 2020 -
While an expansive array of records can be sought via a California Public Records Act request, the right to inspect public records is not without limits. The CPRA does not give unlimited...more
1/16/2020
/ Audio Recording ,
Body Worn Cameras ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Charter Schools ,
Educational Institutions ,
Law Enforcement ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Police ,
Police Dash-Cameras ,
Police Misconduct ,
Public Disclosure ,
Public Records ,
Public Records Act ,
Request For Information ,
State and Local Government ,
Tribal Lands ,
Video Recordings
BB&K's Christine Wood Gives Updates on AB 748 and SB 1421 in PublicCEO -
Now, more than ever, Californians have greater access to police personnel records, body and dashboard camera footage and other recordings acquired by...more
12/2/2019
/ Body Worn Cameras ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Dashcams ,
Law Enforcement ,
Police ,
Police Brutality ,
Police Misconduct ,
Public Access Laws ,
Public Records ,
Request For Information ,
Right To Know ,
State and Local Government ,
Strict Compliance ,
Transparency ,
Video Recordings
LAPD Agrees to Requirements Significantly Beyond the CPRA -
The Los Angeles Police Department and the American Civil Liberties Union settled a lawsuit brought last week that alleged widespread and systemic violations of...more
10/9/2019
/ American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
LAPD ,
Law Enforcement ,
Public Access Laws ,
Public Records ,
Public Records Act ,
Records Request ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Settlement Agreements ,
State and Local Government
ARC’s Christine Wood Discusses Calif. Public Records Act Updates in Riverside Lawyer Magazine -
A public agency’s release of public records is a hot button issue for policy wonks, community advocates and conspiracy...more
The First Amendment continues to evolve to ensure speakers remain protected.
This was recently substantiated by the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University,...more
A trial court has issued a conflicting decision on a controversial new California law that makes some police records publicly available. Public agencies, though, should continue to follow the ruling made previously by an...more
The line between free speech and privacy rights for public employees and elected officials has seemed murky — at best. However, we are finding some clarity in recently decided court cases. This Best Best & Krieger LLP webinar...more
In the first decision by a higher court on a controversial new law that makes some police personnel records available under the Public Records Act, a California appellate court ruled that Senate Bill 1421 applies to records...more