PROCEDURES
SEALED RECORD ITEMS
Dealing with sealed records can be tricky and counsel must take care to appropriately handle these at the conclusion of the appeal. The normal rule that the entire record goes to the client may not apply to sealed portions. Consider the following scenarios:
In one case, appointed counsel was sent sealed records from the Court of Appeal with a notation on the cover, "It is recommended that this report not be provided to the examinee." The order granting access to the report named counsel, not the appellant. At the end of the case, counsel filed an application in the court requesting guidance on how to dispose of the sealed materials, and citing the Rules of Professional Responsibility that the record belongs to the client. The court directed that the sealed report be returned to the Court of Appeal.
A. Marsden Transcripts - Use Rule 8.328(b)
The most commonly sought sealed transcript is from a Marsden hearing (People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118) at which the appellant registers complaints about the performance of trial counsel. A Marsden transcript is to be handled by revised procedures under changes to the California Rules of Court, rule 8.328(b)(1)-(6), effective January 1, 2007.
In both the Third and the Fifth, the new Marsden notice pursuant to rule 8.328(b)(4), may be placed at the end of the opening brief following the Word Count Certificate.
B. Redaction of Juror Identifying Information
Code of Civil Procedure section 237 requires that juror identifying information be sealed. Pursuant to this statute and California Rules of Court, rule 8.332, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of trial jurors and alternates who were sworn to hear the case must be redacted from all documents.
However, there are occasions when disclosure of juror information is necessary to fully investigate and/or support an issued raised on appeal. For example, when a Wheeler challenge is raised on appeal, limited disclosure of juror information - i.e., surnames - may be useful/necessary.
See a sample motion to unseal juror information.
As with all motions that require an unusual appearance in the trial court, appointed counsel with the Third and Fifth District Courts of Appeal will need to move to expand their appointment to be compensated for this work. See a sample motion to expand appointment.
C. Other Sealed Record Items
California Rules of Court, rule 8.328(c) covers other in camera hearings and generally provides that after a judge of the Court of Appeal examines the items, that judge shall allow the examination of the material by the parties to whom the information was accessible in the trial court and their attorneys.
D. Court Policies on Sealed Record Items
In the Third District, when filing a motion to augment for a sealed record, do not at the same time move for permission to view the sealed material. Instead, once the augmented record has been filed, THEN move for permission to view the sealed record. On receipt of the motion to view, the Court will examine the sealed record and determine whether to grant counsel's request to view it. In other words, they prefer a 2-step process rather than all-in-one motion.
Be sure to look at a comparison of the Procedural Policies of the Third vs. Fifth District on sealed record items.