![]() Largent complied when deputies ordered him to stop taking photos in the records room and erase the images. Largent is a vocal critic of the local justice system who spent a month recently outside the courthouse, likening a local judge - via a bullhorn - to disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, an alleged serial sexual harasser. 14 after sheriff’s deputies caught Scott Largent on a video surveillance camera in the Family Justice Center courthouse snapping a photo of his own computer screen in a section of the records office where the public can review cases and then ask a clerk to print documents. The issue arose in Santa Clara County on Nov. “First and foremost, keeping up with the technology,” Fathy said, “while still maintaining privacy.” Asked what prompted those rules, spokeswoman Stephanie Fathy summed up the reasons for the balancing act. In Monterey County, the public may photograph court records, but only with prior approval from a judge. News reporters occasionally may do so, but only with a judge’s permission. All local courts across California, however, prohibit using cameras of any kind in other parts of courthouses, including courtrooms. The rules on cellphone cameras in California trial courts vary because the state Judicial Council allows local courts to set their own policies. ![]() But out of the tens of thousands of cases filed annually, it’s safe to say relatively few have applied. If your income is greater but you still can’t afford the copies, you have to divulge your expenses, including for rent, groceries, clothing, child care, laundry, transportation and utilities, and also report how much is in your bank account and any assets like a car, stocks or “furs.”Ī spokesman said the court doesn’t track how many people have gotten waivers. Anyone who is on welfare or who grosses less than $1,256.26 a month is eligible. Santa Clara County court officials noted that people who can’t afford to pay for copies may apply for a fee waiver. The courts by law cannot charge more for photocopying documents than the cost of materials and staff time. “It’s like, why would I care if they use a cellphone? It frees my staff to do deal with our horrendous paperwork backlogs.” “If it’s a court record, my philosophy is it should be available to everyone, not just people who can afford it,” said Chad Finke, CEO of the Alameda County courts, which allow cellphone snappage. Rada said, “and in confidential cases this violates the privacy the law tries to protect.”īut counties that allow it say there aren’t aware of any incidents involving violation of privacy or security concerns. “Unfortunately, some people have tried to take photographs of screen images and case files in matters being reviewed by other people,” spokesman Benjamin T. ![]() In the family courthouse, it also protects the confidentiality of certain files that are required by state law to be accessed only by parents and their lawyers. Sign up for the free Good Morning Silicon Valley newsletter.Ĭourt officials in Santa Clara County defended the policy, saying it eliminates the risk of people with cell phone cameras harassing other courthouse visitors by taking their pictures. Get tech news in your inbox weekday mornings. ![]() In addition to the cost, people who want copies of family court records in particular often have to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour to be waited on by a clerk because of staff cutbacks.
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