Best
Best v. County of San Diego CA4/1
Opinion
Opinion
Irion, J.
I. INTRODUCTION
Enacted in 1968, the CPRA grants access to public records held by state and local agencies. (§ 6250 et seq.) The purpose of the CPRA is to “increas[e] freedom of information by giving members of the public access to records in the possession of state and local agencies.” (Los Angeles County Bd. of Supervisors v. Superior Court (2016) 2 Cal.5th 282, 290.) In adopting the CPRA, the Legislature declared that “access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.” (§ 6250.) Since 2004, the California Constitution has reflected this principle: “The people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business, and, therefore, . . . the writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public scrutiny.” (Cal. Const., art. I, § 3, subd. (b)(1).) To this end, the CPRA establishes a basic rule requiring, and a procedure for ensuring, prompt disclosure of public records upon request. (§ 6253.) “In general, [the CPRA] creates ‘a presumptive right of access to any record created or maintained by
3 a public agency that relates in any way to the…