California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Office Of The Inspector Gen. v. The Superior Court Of Sacramento County, C064178, No.342009800000390CUWMGDS (Cal. App. 2010):
"With the passage of Proposition 59 effective November 3, 2004, the people's right of access to information in public settings now has state constitutional stature, grounding the presumption of openness in civil court proceedings with state constitutional roots. (Cal. Const., art. I, 3, subd. (b)(1)): 'The people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business, and, therefore, the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public scrutiny.'" (Savaglio v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 588, 597.) The constitutional provision further provides that statutes furthering the people's right of access shall be broadly construed, while statutes limiting the right of access are to be narrowly construed. (Cal. Const., art. I, 3, subd. (b)(2).)
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