Swatt Guide to Press Law — California Law
In California, journalists enjoy several rights specific to the state. Learn about California specific protections and laws on this page!
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our ask-a-librarian service or via an email to csllaw@library.ca.gov.
California Constitutional Law
Do you want to read the constitutional amendment (now Article 1, Section 2b of the California Constitution) that protects reporters from contempt of court charges for protecting their sources and that inspired the creation of this research guide? Maybe you want to learn more about state constitutional protections for members of the press generally. Use this quick guide to start your California Constitutional research.
Research Existing Constitutional Law
You can search a current version of the California Constitution for free. Here is how you can do so.
- Go to California Legislative Information
- Click on the California Law tab
- Click Text Search tab
- Type in Search Term
- Select California Constitution
Find Proposed Constitutional Amendments
All Constitutional Amendments must appear on the ballot whether they originate in the legislature or as an initiative. See what will appear on the next ballot.
- Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures :: California Secretary of State
- Scroll to the upcoming election
- Look for measures containing the phrase “Initiative Constitutional Amendment” or the acronyms “ACA” or “SCA”
- Click on the associated hyperlinks to read the amendment text
Get Amendment and Initiative Alerts
Find out when a new constitutional amendment becomes eligible to appear on the ballot using this free alert service.
- Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures :: California Secretary of State
- Click on “Receive Updates”
- Fill in the required information
Get Involved
Do you have an opinion on a new proposed amendment? Vote! Here is how you can register:
- Voter Registration :: California Secretary of State
- Click “Register to Vote Now” or on the link to a voting form in your preferred language
- Fill out the required information
On-Site Resources
Not finding what you need online? We have a number of onsite resources that may help you with your California Constitutional research, including the following:
Legal Databases
- HeinOnline
- Westlaw
Paper Publications
- Annotated California Constitutions (1857 – present)
- Assembly and Senate Constitutional Amendment Bill Versions (1867 – present)
- Published California Constitution Revision Commission Records—Contact the library’s Government Publications Section
California Legislation
Are you curious about California Evidence Code §1070? Many laws affecting press rights and access go through California’s Legislature. Research the current California laws that apply to the press in the California Codes as well as legislation under consideration.
Researching Existing Laws
You can search a current version of the California Codes for free. Here is how you can do so.
- Go to California Legislative Information
- Click on the “California Law” tab
- Click the “Text Search” tab
- Type in a search term
- Click “Select All”
Find Recent Bills
Start your research on new and recently passed bills using this quick guide. For detailed instructions on bill research please see our research guide: California Legislative History: Basic Online Research
- Go to California Legislative Information
- Click on the “Bill Information” Tab
- Click the “Text Search” Tab
- Select the “Session Year”
- Type in your search terms (one word or phrase per search box)
- Select a bill
Get Legislation Alerts
Learn about new bills related to press law or other topics by using this free keyword search alert service.
- Sign up for a free California Legislative Information account: New User Registration (ca.gov)
- Click on the “Bill Information” tab
- Click the “Text Search” tab
- Type in your search terms
- Click on “Track the KEYWORD(S)” on the search results page
Get Involved
Do you have a comment or opinion on a new bill? Say something! Contact your legislator.
- Find Address (ca.gov)
- Enter your residential address
- Click on your Representative’s name
- Use the contact form on their website
On-Site Resources
Not finding what you need online even after consulting our California Legislative History: Basic Online Research guide? We may have resources onsite that will help you, such as the following:
Legal Databases
- HeinOnline
- Westlaw
Paper Publications
- Annotated California Codes (1872 – present)
- Assembly and Senate Bill Versions (1867 – present)
- Bill File Analysis (1975 – present)
California Case Law
Want to read the judicial opinion issued in Delaney v. Superior Court? You can find California case law through unofficial sources and via government websites. Learn how to use the government websites to find court records and sign up for case alerts.
Government Websites: Supreme and Appellate Court Records
Published opinions as well as basic records such as dockets for recent Appellate and Supreme court cases are widely available online. You can view them online at these official websites:
- Published Court Opinions
- Published / Citable Opinions
- Click on “Official Reports Opinions”
- Search by keyword or Docket Number
- Court Dockets and other records
- California Courts – Appellate Court Case Information
- Click Search
- Search by Litigants or Docket Number
Government Websites: Lower Court Records
Records from superior courts are not “published” and therefore not widely available online; however, you may still be able to see them. Here is how:
- Superior Court Records
- Find Your Court
- Select the appropriate court
- Use the court’s case search function or contact the Court Clerk for records
Unofficial Online Sources
In addition to the official sources, you can also search for published California case opinions on these unofficial sites. Please note that the California State Library is providing these links for informational purposes and in no way endorses these websites.
- Google Scholar (Check “Case Law” option)
- FindLaw
- Justia
- Advanced Legal Opinion Search – CourtListener.com
Get Case Alerts
You can keep track of individual California Supreme and Appellate Court cases and their proceedings by completing the following steps:
- California Courts – Appellate Court Case Information
- Click on the “E-mail” button
- Specify the court the case is in
- Provide your email address and the case docket number
On-Site Resources
Not finding what you need online? We may have resources onsite that will help you, such as the following:
Legal Databases
- HeinOnline
- Westlaw
Paper Publications
- Supreme Court Opinions (1850-Present)
- California Appellate Court Opinions (1905-Present)
- Supreme Court Briefs (1863 – present)
- Appellate Court Briefs (1905 – present)
California Attorney General Opinions
Do you need to know if a local police officer can legally keep a reporter out of an earthquake damage zone? You might want to check the California Attorney General opinions. California courts, legislators, and others who either write or apply the law frequently refer to California Attorney General opinions for guidance on how to interpret existing law, including laws related to the press. Find out how to access these opinions.
Research Existing Opinions
The California Department of Justice provides free access to Attorney General Opinions issued after 1980. Here is how you can see them.
- Legal Opinions of the Attorney General – Search for Opinions
- Search by keyword or citation
- Open the relevant opinion
Find New Opinion Requests
Certain public officials can ask the California Attorney General to write a formal opinion on specific legal questions. See what questions our public officials are currently asking.
- Legal Opinions of the Attorney General – Monthly Opinion Report
- Scroll to “Pending Matters”
Get Opinion Alerts
You can stay on top of the Attorney General’s latest guidance on how to interpret California law by signing up for Opinion alerts.
- Legal Opinions of the Attorney General – Opinion Unit
- Enter your email address mail in the “E-mail” box
- Click Subscribe
Get Involved
Do you have a comment on a legal question that California’s Attorney General is considering? Say something!
- Legal Opinions of the Attorney General – Monthly Opinion Report
- Scroll to “Pending Matters”
- Click on the name of the Deputy Attorney General assigned to the question to email them
On-Site Resources
Not finding what you need online? We may have resources onsite that will help you, such as the following:
Legal Databases
- HeinOnline
- Westlaw
Paper (and Microfilm) Publications
- California Attorney General Opinions (1899–date)
California Regulations
Do you want to know what regulations might apply to a journalist who wants to interview a prison inmate? The overarching principles of press freedoms and rights are often governed by legislation and court decisions, but regulatory law can affect the details. This quick guide will get you started on researching California’s regulations.
Research Current Regulations
You can search the most current version of the California Code of Regulations for rules affecting the press on the following website:
- Search – California Code of Regulations (westlaw.com)
- Type in search terms
Find Recent Regulation Proposals
The Office of Administrative Law, which oversees the California regulatory change process, posts information about possible regulation changes in the Regulatory Notice Register. Here is how you can see the latest proposals:
- California Regulatory Notice Register Online | OAL
- Click on the most recent month
- Open the latest Register Notice
- Keyword search the document or read through the proposed changes
- Special note:
- The regulatory change process often takes several months. You can see a list of all changes still under consideration here: Proposed Regulations Under Review | OAL
Get Involved
Do you have an opinion about a proposed regulatory change? Say something!
- California Regulatory Notice Register Online | OAL
- Locate a regulatory change you have concerns about
- Follow the comment instructions
On-Site Resources
Are you not finding what you need online? The Witkin State Law Library’s onsite resources are useful for general research and for the regulatory history and intent research process outlined by the Office of Administrative Law: California Code of Regulations History Research | OAL
Legal Databases
- HeinOnline
- Westlaw
Paper (or Microfiche) Publications
- Code of Regulations (1980 – present)
- Supplement Register (1945 – 2017)
- Notice Register (1974 – present)