Calaveras Superior Court Sealing & Redaction Procedures

CRITICAL

The parties’ agreement or stipulation cannot by itself establish confidentiality or seal a court document; court findings are required before records are sealed.

An agreement or stipulation between the parties for confidentiality or sealing of a document filed with the court is legally insufficient. The law requires court findings prior to sealing any records.

CRITICAL

A party seeking to seal a court record from public inspection must follow California Rules of Court, Rule 2.551.

For any court record a party wishes to be “sealed” from public inspection, the party shall follow those procedures set out in California Rules of Court, Rule 2.551.

WARNING

Ex parte applications for expert or investigator funds and supporting documents will not be filed under seal unless the Court makes the findings required by California Rules of Court, Rule 2.551, and orders the records sealed.

Ex parte applications for funds to retain an expert or investigator, including any memoranda of points and authorities and/or declarations in support of the applications, will not be filed under seal unless the Court makes the findings required in California Rules of Court, Rule 2.551 and orders the records sealed.

WARNING

Court records in criminal and general civil cases are presumed open to public inspection unless confidentiality is required by law.

Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records in both criminal and general civil cases are presumed to be open to the public for inspection.

WARNING

Ex parte applications for expert or investigator funds and their supporting documents are confidential and, unless the Court orders otherwise, may be reviewed only by the defendant’s attorney or court staff.

Ex parte applications for funds to retain an expert or investigator, including any memoranda of points and authorities and/or declarations in support of the applications, are confidential documents pursuant to Evidence Code §§ 952 & 954. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, ex parte applications may only be reviewed by the defendant’s attorney or court staff.