In March 2025, IRP asked San Joaquin County for copies of 34 autopsy reports in cases of persons who died during interactions with law enforcement officers. The county did not dispute that the reports must be disclosed under California law, but it demanded that IRP pay a flat fee of $25 per copy, for a total of $850, regardless of the length of any given report.
The lawsuit argues that the $25 flat fee is unlawful because it exceeds the direct cost of copying the reports. California law prohibits charging more for copies of public records than the direct cost of duplication, unless a statute specifically allows higher fees. According to the lawsuit, no statute allows the county to charge the $25 flat fee. Also, California law specifically prohibits charging for the costs of locating, editing, or redacting records related to killings by police.
“Access to public records shouldn’t depend on how much money someone has,” said Katey Rusch, a reporter at the IRP. “We’re grateful to the attorneys supporting our fight against this unlawful fee.”…