California

Thank you for contacting the Judicial Council of California’s Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records (PAJAR) team. This is an automatic reply message to let you know that we received your request.

Please read the message below because it has information that may help you.

*** PLEASE DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail. Responses to this autoreply are not monitored.***

WHAT TO EXPECT

• If you are asking for court case records—for example, a court order, divorce records, name change records, criminal history records— this message will be the only response you receive. Please read the section, below, “The PAJAR Team Cannot Provide These Records,” to find information that may be helpful.

• If you are asking for judicial administrative records from the Judicial Council, the Supreme Court of California, or a California Court of Appeal, the PAJAR team will send you a response within about 10 days.

• Here are some examples of judicial administrative records: signed contracts, final audit reports, budget and spending reports, reports to the Legislature, and procurement records. You can find more information about judicial administrative records at www.courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index.cfm?title=ten&linkid=rule10_500<http://www.courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index.cfm?title=ten&linkid=rule10_500> and at www.courts.ca.gov/publicrecords.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/publicrecords.htm>.

• The PAJAR team may ask you for more information to be sure it understands your request. The PAJAR team may also notify you if it needs more time to complete a search.

• When work on your request is complete, the PAJAR team will notify you whether there are disclosable responsive records or not. If there are disclosable responsive copies, the PAJAR team will provide electronic copies, if possible.

THE PAJAR TEAM CANNOT PROVIDE THESE RECORDS

> Court Case Records—Superior Courts of California

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of superior court case records. If you want records filed in a specific superior court case, you must contact the court directly. California has 58 superior courts, one in each county. You can find links to each court’s website at www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts<http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts>. Each superior court clerk is responsible for that court’s records.

Some superior court websites allow the public to search and view some types of case records online. If a court’s website does not allow you to search and view case records online, you must call or visit the court clerk’s office for help. Superior courts post their telephone numbers and street addresses on their websites. Some also post e-mail addresses.

Examples of records that you must request by contacting a superior court:
• Divorce decrees;
• Traffic citations;
• Name change records;
• Wills;
• Criminal case records (for example, orders imposing sentences and judgments); and
• Restraining orders.

You will find more information about some of these topics in the message below.

> Court Case Records—Supreme Court of California and California Courts of Appeal

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of appellate court case records. You can find information about specific cases filed with the Supreme Court of California or with a California Courts of Appeal at appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov<http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/>.

You can review opinions that the Supreme Court of California and the California Courts of Appeal issued in specific cases at www.courts.ca.gov/opinions.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions.htm>.

You can find the following Supreme Court of California case records online:
• Legal briefs filed in cases argued before the court: supreme.courts.ca.gov/case-information/briefs-argued-cases<https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/case-information/briefs-argued-cases>; and
• Official minutes going back three years: supreme.courts.ca.gov/case-information/minutes<https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/case-information/minutes>.

To view or request copies of records filed in a specific case before the Supreme Court of California, you must call or visit the court. Supreme Court contact information is posted at supreme.courts.ca.gov/about-court/court-locations-and-contacts<https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/about-court/court-locations-and-contacts>.

To view or request copies of records filed in specific cases before a California Court of Appeal you must call or visit the court. You can find a list of the six Courts of Appeal at www.courts.ca.gov/courtsofappeal.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/courtsofappeal.htm>. On the left side of that page, select the court where the case is filed. Then scroll down to select “Contact Us.” On that page you will find court telephone numbers and location addresses.

If you have a Court of Appeal case number, but you do not know the court where the case is filed, please visit www.courts.ca.gov/courtsofappeal.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/courtsofappeal.htm>. That page lists the letters that begin the case numbers for each of the Courts of Appeal.

Information about California appellate court cases also is available at your local law library, which may provide free public access to computer-assisted legal research systems such as LexisNexis or Westlaw. To learn more about local public law libraries, and to locate one near you, visit www.courts.ca.gov/1091.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/1091.htm>.

> Court Case Records—United States Federal Courts

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of records filed in cases before federal courts located in California. To find information about those federal courts—including court telephone numbers and location addresses for those courts—please visit:
• www.cand.uscourts.gov<http://www.cand.uscourts.gov> (district court, Northern California);
• www.casd.uscourts.gov<http://www.casd.uscourts.gov> (district court, Southern California);
• www.caed.uscourts.gov<http://www.caed.uscourts.gov> (district court, Eastern California);
• www.cacd.uscourts.gov<http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov> (district court, Central California); and
• www.ca9.uscourts.gov<http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov> (Courts of Appeal).

> Birth or Death Certificates

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of birth or death certificates. The registrar or recorder in the county where the birth or death occurred would have these records.

You can find a list of all California county registrars and recorders, and their contact information, at www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/County-Registrars-and-Recorders.aspx<http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/County-Registrars-and-Recorders.aspx>.

For information about how to request a birth or death certificate, please visit the website of California’s Department of Public Health, at www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records.aspx<http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records.aspx>.

> Domestic Violence Information

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of restraining or protective orders. You can find Information about where and how to ask for help in domestic violence circumstances on the California Courts Self-Help website at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-domesticviolence.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-domesticviolence.htm>.

If you want copies of a restraining or protective order, you must contact the superior court where the case is filed. You can find links to all 58 superior court websites at www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts<http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts>. Court websites list court telephone numbers and locations.

> Criminal Background Records

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of criminal history records. You must request copies from the superior court where the criminal case is filed. You can find links to all 58 superior court websites at www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts<http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts>. Court websites list court telephone numbers and locations.

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are responsible for investigating criminal activity. If you suspect criminal activity is taking place, please contact law enforcement authorities. You can find a list of California Law Enforcement Agencies at post.ca.gov/le-agencies<https://post.ca.gov/le-agencies>.

> Name Change Records

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of name change records. The California State Archives stores some name change records. Please visit the State Archives website, at www.sos.ca.gov/archives/about-archives/contact<http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/about-archives/contact/> to learn more. You can also call the California State Archives reference desk at 916-653-2246.

Information about the process for completing a name change can be found on the California Courts Self-Help website at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-namechange.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-namechange.htm>.

> Traffic Citations

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of traffic citations. Each superior court handles traffic matters independently and is responsible for its own records. If you have questions about a traffic ticket, please contact the superior court listed on the ticket (i.e., the “Notice to Appear”). You can find links to all 58 superior court websites at www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts<http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts>. Court websites list court telephone numbers and locations.

You can find general information about traffic tickets on the California Courts Self-Help website at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-traffic.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-traffic.htm>.

> Wills

The PAJAR team cannot provide copies of a will for someone who has died. If a copy of the will has been filed or lodged with a superior court, you must contact the superior court to request a copy. You can find links to all 58 superior court websites at www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts<http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts>. Court websites list court telephone numbers and locations.

For general information about wills, estates, and probate matters, please visit the California Courts Self-Help website at www.courts.ca.gov/8865.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/8865.htm>.

> Jury Duty Information

The PAJAR team cannot answer questions about jury duty. If you have questions about a juror summons, or want to be excused from jury duty, please contact the superior court that issued the jury summons. You can find links to all 58 superior court websites at www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts<http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm?query=browse_courts>. This page also contains links to the pages on each court’s website that has information about juror service. Court websites list court telephone numbers and locations.

You can find general information about jury service in California by visiting www.courts.ca.gov/juryservice.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/juryservice.htm>.

We hope this information is helpful. Thank you for your interest in the California judicial branch.

Sincerely,
Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records
Legal Services | Leadership Services Division
Judicial Council of California
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102-3688
415-865-7796 | PAJAR@jud.ca.gov<mailto:PAJAR@jud.ca.gov>

Good morning,

Your e-mail request below has reached the “Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records” (PAJAR) team at the Judicial Council of California. The PAJAR team responds to requests to inspect “judicial administrative records” pursuant to rule 10.500 of the California Rules of Court. You can find information about rule 10.500, the process for requesting records, and the types of records available through this process at www.courts.ca.gov/publicrecords.htm<http://www.courts.ca.gov/publicrecords.htm>.

The PAJAR team is reviewing your request. Properly processing your request will require additional time. (Please see Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.500(e)(8)(A) and (C).) We estimate we will be able to notify you of our determination about whether the Judicial Council has disclosable responsive records by Thursday, May 9. If our estimate changes, we will let you know without delay.

Sincerely,
Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records
Legal Services | Leadership Services Division
Judicial Council of California
455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California 94102-3688
415-865-7796 | PAJAR@jud.ca.gov<mailto:PAJAR@jud.ca.gov>