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Public & Media Information

News for the Public and the Press

See the list of current and archived news releases. Also see the Extraordinary Criminal Cases page.

Policies, Procedures, Laws and Forms related to Access to the Court

The court is committed to providing access to the courtroom and court records as permitted by law, while protecting confidentiality as needed in the pursuit of justice.

Public and Media Access to Court and Court Records

Submitting MC-500/510

All requests to record proceedings (MC-500 and MC-510 ) must be submitted electronically to media@scscourt.org. The Court no longer accepts hand-delivered or faxed requests.

Requests must be received five business days in advance of the hearing, with the exceptions listed below:

  • Generally, any media outlet wishing to record a 1:30 p.m. felony arraignment at any one of our three criminal courthouses (Hall of Justice, Palo Alto and Morgan Hill) must submit their request no later than 11:30 a.m. that same day. No requests will be processed after 11:30 a.m. Case numbers are preferred but not required for arraignments, as often case numbers are not available before 11:30 a.m.
  • Generally, any media outlet wishing to record a felony plea or other pre-trial matter handled by one of our felony cases manager judges at the Hall of Justice will be automatically permitted as long as the outlet meets the following cut off times:
    • 3:30 p.m. on the previous day before a 9 a.m. calendared matter
    • 11:30 a.m. that same day for a 1:30 p.m. calendared matter

Pooling Arrangements

  • Hall of Justice: generally, one video camera and one still camera will be permitted into arraignment and pre-trial matters handled by one of our felony case management judges. For video, the last media outlet to submit their request will be designated pool – unless that outlet uses a unique format, with the pooling then adjusting to the second to last outlet to submit a request. At the request of print outlets, still camera pooling and the accompanying photo credit will be given to the first outlet to submit its request. For all other non arraignment and pre-trial matters, pooling will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • Palo Alto & Morgan Hill: generally, one video and one still camera will be permitted to felony arraignment and pre-trial matters. For these matters, outlets will be designated pool. For all other non pre-trial matters, pooling will be determined on a case-by-case-basis.
  • All other Santa Clara County Courthouses: pooling will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Trial Coverage

It’s critical that media requests are submitted five days or more in advance of the trial. The Court needs adequate time to notify the parties, and if necessary set a hearing to discuss the matter. Media outlets should consider providing any and all pertinent information in their request relating to public interest with respect to media access to the case.

Please note, there is little justification for not meeting the five day rule as trials are generally set weeks in advance. A journalist or media outlet just learning of a court hearing is generally not perceived as a sufficient reason for noncompliance with the five day rule.

Juvenile Proceedings

Generally, the public is not admitted to juvenile justice proceedings. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 676 ; see also Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 5.530.) Some exceptions exist.

Sketch Artists

Media are to solicit and contract sketch artists directly as the Court will play no role in coordinating the purchasing of images.

Sketch artists are not required to obtain permission prior to coming to Court and sketching images. There are limited circumstances where sketch artists would not be permitted to capture images from the courtroom; however, these will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Court File Requests

The public and media should obtain court records through the standard public process outlined below. 

Reporters on deadline and in need of immediate assistance should contact media@scscourt.org.

Electronic and paper copies of Court records are $0.50 per page, with an additional charge for credit cards. 

Administrative Records

The Court is governed by California Rule of Court 10.500 with respect to public access to administrative records. Media outlets wishing to obtain administrative records should email media@scscourt.org.

The personnel cost associated with retrieving information contained in the Court’s databases will be charged to the person or entity requesting the data. Rates vary.

Electronic and paper copies of administrative records are $0.50 per page, with an additional $5 charge for credit cards. 

Requests for court-security camera video are governed by General Court and Administration Rule 8.  Requests may be made using Local Form GS-056.

Court Updates - X (Twitter) Feed

All updates for Court operations will be provided via the Court’s X (Twitter) feed: @scscourt.

Questions related to proceeding updates should be directed to media@scscourt.org.

In the event of heightened media interest, the Court retains the discretion to establish a media feed.

Inmate/Booking Photo Information for Santa Clara County

The Santa Clara County - Office of the Sheriff  - Custody Bureau has information regarding individuals in custody.

They also provide an online look-up service where you can look up inmate booking information.

The Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of booking photos and should be contacted directly by those wishing to obtain these images.

CRC Rule 1.150 re: Photographing, Recording, and Broadcasting in Court

  • Importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the judicial system
  • Importance of promoting public access to the judicial system
  • Parties' support of or opposition to the request
  • Nature of the case
  • Privacy rights of all participants in the proceeding, including witnesses, jurors, and victims
  • Effect on any minor who is a party, prospective witness, victim, or other participant in the proceeding
  • Effect on the parties' ability to select a fair and unbiased jury
  • Effect on any ongoing law enforcement activity in the case
  • Effect on any unresolved identification issues
  • Effect on any subsequent proceedings in the case
  • Effect of coverage on the willingness of witnesses to cooperate, including the risk that coverage will engender threats to the health or safety of any witness
  • Effect on excluded witnesses who would have access to the televised testimony of prior witnesses
  • Scope of the coverage and whether partial coverage might unfairly influence or distract the jury
  • Difficulty of jury selection if a mistrial is declared
  • Security and dignity of the court
  • Undue administrative or financial burden to the court or participants
  • Interference with neighboring courtrooms
  • Maintaining orderly conduct of the proceeding
  • Any other factor the judge deems relevant

Approved MC500/510 orders do not permit photographing, recording, or broadcasting of certain people and events - see below.

  • The jury or the spectators
  •  Jury selection
  •   A conference between an attorney and a client, witness or aide
  •  A conference between attorneys
  •  A conference between counsel and the judge at the bench ("sidebars")
  •  A proceeding closed to the public
  •  A proceeding held in chambers

NOTE: These requirements apply unless the judge orders otherwise. Refer to the order for additional requirements.

  • No more than one television camera
  • No more than one still photographer
  • No more than one microphone operator and no obtrusive microphones or wiring
  • No operator entry or exit or other distraction when the court is in session
  • No moving equipment when the court is in session
  • No distracting sounds or lights
  • No visible signal light or device that shows when equipment is operating
  • No disruption of proceedings, nor public expense, to install, operate, or remove modifications to existing sound and lighting systems
  • No media agency insignia or marking on equipment or clothing at discretion of the Court; generally, Santa Clara County Superior Court does not object to insignia or marking.

Any violation of this order or Rule 1.150 is an unlawful interference with the proceedings of the court. The violation may result in an order terminating media coverage, a citation for contempt of court, or an order imposing monetary or other sanctions.

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