California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Pitchess Motions

PITCHESS IN PLAY: UNLOCKING POLICE FILES WHEN THE LAW WON’T

by Czarmaine C. Majan on September 3, 2025

posted in Law Enforcement, Pitchess Motions,

A Pitchess Motion is a procedural tool used in both criminal and civil cases to seek the discovery of specific information contained in confidential personnel files of peace officers. Pitchess is used typically in criminal cases in an effort to support the defense’s case and/or to impeach an officer who may testify as a material witness. Although California Penal Code Section 832.7 has opened specific categories of peace officer records to public disclosure, Pitchess Motions remain highly relevant. This is because many forms of officer misconduct still fall outside the statute’s automatic ... Continue Reading

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Court Clarifies Duties of Police, City Attorneys, District Attorneys for Pitchess Discovery Motions

by William R. Galstan on July 20, 2015

posted in Law Enforcement, Pitchess Motions,

The California Supreme Court has resolved questions that have arisen among police departments, city attorneys and district attorneys about their obligations to respond to criminal discovery requirements under the landmark decisions of Brady v. Maryland and Pitchess v. Superior Court. The Brady case, generally, requires the prosecution to disclose material evidence that is favorable to the criminal defendant.  Pitchess holds that peace officers are entitled to a measure of privacy, and that their personnel records can only be examined and disclosed after the filing of a “Pitchess motion”.  ... Continue Reading

tags: Brady v. Maryland, Criminal Discovery, District Attorney, Pitchess Motions, Pitchess v. Superior Court,