Contemnor, who is the keeper of the records of the Portland Police Bureau’s Internal Investigation Division (IID), was held in contempt for refusing to turn over certain IID records to Carter, the defendant in a pending criminal case. We affirm.
Carter was arrested by Portland Police Officer Berry on June 11,1988, for riot and disorderly conduct. On August 2, 1988, while a television broadcaster was interviewing Carter, Berry called Carter a “dirt bag” over his police car’s loudspeaker. The incident prompted an IID investigation of Berry.
While the criminal case was pending, Carter served a subpoena duces tecum on IID to produce all records relating to its investigation of the August 2 incident. Contemnor moved to quash the subpoena on the ground that Carter had not made a showing that the requested information was material and favorable to his defense. At the hearing on the motion to quash, the court noted that Carter had not made any showing and allowed him an additional day to do so. Carter filed an affidavit. The court then ordered that the IID file be submitted for an in camera inspection. Contemnor complied with the order and the court, after inspecting the file, ordered contemnor to release to Carter a list of all persons at the scene of the incident and any statements of Berry “pertaining to” that incident. Contemnor refused to turn the material over to Carter. The court entered a judgment of contempt, under ORS 33.010(l)(e), that contemnor had wilfully violated the court’s order.
On appeal, contemnor contends that the motion to quash should have been granted, because Carter had not made an appropriate showing. However, the order for contemnor to give the material to Carter was based on the court’s in camera inspection of the file. Contemnor obeyed the court’s order to submit the file for in camera inspection, and the sufficiency of Carter’s affidavit is now irrelevant to contemnor’s appeal of the judgment.
The district attorney was required by ORS 135.815(1) and the Due Process Clause of the federal constitution to disclose certain information to Carter. See Brady v. Maryland,
The question in this case, whether statutory or constitutional discovery should be denied or restricted, arises because ORS 192.501(13) exempts certain records of disciplinary action from disclosure under the Public Records Law. City of Portland v. Rice,
In order for the court to undertake an in camera inspection, a defendant in a criminal case must show that the information is discoverable under ORS 135.815(1) or is favorable to him and material to guilt or punishment. If the trial court concludes that a sufficient showing is made, then it will order the material submitted for an in camera inspection, which must be done outside the presence of the parties and their counsel. State ex rel Carlile v. Lewis, supra. The order for in camera inspection may be challenged by appealing an order of contempt for refusing to obey or by mandamus. State v. Crenshaw,
We are reviewing a judgment of contempt. Contemnor could establish that her conduct is not contemptuous by showing that she has a right to disobey, because the order to turn over records is invalid. See State v. Crenshaw, supra; State ex rel Mix v. Newland,
Affirmed.
Notes
Public records that concern disciplinary actions are exempt from disclosure, if a disciplinary action is recommended or imposed. City of Portland v. Rice,
