California · Penal Code

PEN §1054: This chapter shall be interpreted to give effect to all of the following purposes: (a) To promote the ascertainment of truth in trials by requiring timely pretrial discovery.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute sets interpretive purposes for a discovery chapter, establishing goals for pretrial disclosure, court efficiency, victim/witness protection, and limiting criminal discovery to statutory and constitutional bounds.

Read the full statutory text

This chapter shall be interpreted to give effect to all of the following purposes: (a) To promote the ascertainment of truth in trials by requiring timely pretrial discovery. (b) To save court time by requiring that discovery be conducted informally between and among the parties before judicial enforcement is requested. (c) To save court time in trial and avoid the necessity for frequent interruptions and postponements. (d) To protect victims and witnesses from danger, harassment, and undue delay of the proceedings. (e) To provide that no discovery shall occur in criminal cases except as provided by this chapter, other express statutory provisions, or as mandated by the Constitution of the United States.

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