Access To Suppressed Court Eviction Records

Under existing law, a court record in an eviction proceeding is automatically suppressed and only available to judges; court staff; a party to the case and, if represented, the party's attorneys; authorized judicial department staff; and a person with a valid court order authorizing access to the court record. The bill permits an attorney, with permission of a party included in a suppressed court record, to access the record for the purpose of:

• Providing legal advice to, or evaluating whether to enter an appearance on behalf of, the party included in the record ; or
• Evaluating whether the matter is suitable for mediation or in preparation for a mediation between the parties included in the court record.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)