Sacramento County Employees' Retirement System v. Superior Court

In this original writ proceeding we discuss the California Public Records Act (Public Records Act) and the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Retirement Law). (Gov. Code, §§ 6251 et seq., 31450 et seq.)

The Public Records Act generally requires public agencies to disclose public records, subject to exemptions. (See International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, Local 21, AFL-CIO v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 319, 328-329 [ 64 Cal.Rptr.3d 693 , 165 P.3d 488 ] (International Federation),) Part of the Retirement Law provides: “Sworn statements and individual records of members shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone except insofar as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter or upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or upon written authorization by the member.” (§ 31532.)

After much public outcry about government pensions, The Sacramento Bee and the First Amendment Coalition (collectively, the Bee) filed a petition for writ of mandate to compel the Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) to reveal the pension benefits of named retirees. The trial court concluded the amounts of pension…