California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Facebook, Inc. v. Superior Court of City & Cnty. of S.F., 259 Cal.Rptr.3d 331, 46 Cal.App.5th 109 (Cal. App. 2020):
When a criminal defendant requests document discovery from a third party, the third party responds by delivering the materials to the clerk of the court. ( Pen. Code, 1326, subds. (b) - (c) ; Evid. Code 1560, subd. (b) ; Kling v. Superior Court (2010) 50 Cal.4th 1068, 1074, 116 Cal.Rptr.3d 217, 239 P.3d 670.) "[T]he court may order an in camera hearing to determine whether or not the defense is entitled to receive the documents." ( Pen. Code, 1326, subd. (c).) "Th[ese] restriction[s] maintain[ ] the courts control over the discovery process, for if the third party objects to disclosure of the information sought, the party seeking the information must make a plausible justification or a good cause showing of need therefor. " ( Kling, supra, 50 Cal.4th at pp. 1074-1075, 116 Cal.Rptr.3d 217, 239 P.3d 670.) "Of course, any third party or entityincluding a social
[46 Cal.App.5th 119]
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