$10 Public Court Record search fee defeated in California Legislature

trailer bill that would have severely limited press and public access to court documents has died in the California Legislature, after widespread editorial condemnation from the state’s newspapers. The defeated proposal was put forward by the Administrative Office of the Courts and would have resulted in a charge of $10 per file to look at court records. While court administrators pushed the fee as a way to raise revenue, freedom of information advocates said the proposal would in practice wall off the public record. The political and editorial fallout resulted in a self-inflicted wound for court bureaucrats, with legislators blasting the fee and those that proposed it. “Most agreed that it would be horrible public policy,” said Jim Ewert, General Counsel for the California Newspaper Publishers Association, a group that lobbied fiercely against the proposal. In addition to affecting publishers, the proposed $10 fee on nearly every court record requested by members of the general public would have also negatively impacted court researchers who review a large amount of court files for background check companies, as well as licensed professional investigators. Precisely why the bill failed, reporters are unsure. However, freedom of information has been a suggested justification. “All I can speculate is that the Assembly wanted to protect every person’s ability to obtain this information very important information and not just the press,” said Ewert. Judges in the Alliance criticized the search fee as a “ham-handed” idea that was “apparently created in non-public meetings by unidentified AOC staff and others.” Legislators evidently heard those complaints.]]>

You May Also Like

Check out these additional posts from Mind Your Business.

What are Continuous Background Checks?

Continuous background checks are a departure from traditional screening practices and are a paradigm shift in how companies vet their employees. Unlike the conventional one-and-done approach, continuous background checks involve regular, ongoing assessments of an individual’s criminal history and qualifications. Continuous background checks can be used at varying frequencies, ranging from daily to weekly or…
Read More

The Top Five Reasons to Run a Background Check

Running a background check is more than just a precaution; it’s a crucial step toward ensuring transparency, accountability, and peace of mind. Let’s explore why running various types of background checks is essential in various aspects of life.  Hiring the Right Candidates In the hiring process, running a background check is a cornerstone of pre-employment…
Read More

Timing is Everything: When to Run a Background Check

Mind Your Business is a leading provider of pre-employment background screening, equal employment opportunity support services, drug screening services, and other support services for both the private and federal sectors. MYB is a certified woman-owned small business. Running a background check has become a crucial step in various aspects of life. Whether you’re hiring potential…
Read More

Quality and Precise Results, On Time!

Let us know about your screening needs to get a custom quote. We work with businesses big and small as well as the government. Which means we have a package of solutions for your organization as well.