For a San Diego criminal case initiated on or after February 17, 2026, General Order 020926-35 describes the court’s imaging program: public portions of the electronic case file can be viewed at criminal-business-office kiosks. The signed order is dated April 28, 2026, and expires December 31, 2026 unless replaced. A docket or online case search is not the same as viewing the actual filed documents. (Signed General Order 020926-35; San Diego General Orders index.)

Check that the case falls within the order

The order applies by case-initiation date, not simply by when you ask for records. It designates the electronic Odyssey file as the official court record for covered cases. Public portions may be viewed free at kiosks in the North, Central, East, and South criminal business offices. If other users are waiting, the order limits kiosk viewing to 15 minutes. Ask staff for the specific document you need and follow the kiosk instructions. (General Order 020926-35.)

Copies—including certified copies—require the applicable fee and the court’s copy procedure. Sealed or confidential documents remain restricted; inclusion in an electronic file does not make them public. The order also says original paper filings are generally retained for 30 days before shredding, with exceptions for bonds, fingerprint forms, and other originals the law requires the court to keep. During that retention period, the paper is ordinarily unavailable for public inspection unless the court grants a good-cause order. (General Order 020926-35; California Rules of Court, rule 2.503.)

Remote search and actual documents are different

The rules distinguish remote access to calendars, indexes, and registers from access to criminal case documents. Remote document access is restricted, subject to a narrow case-specific court exception. The rules also explain official electronic records and copy or certification procedures. Do not assume every document is downloadable from home or that a case-index entry provides the underlying order. (California Rules of Court, rule 2.503; rule 2.504.)

Before requesting a record, note the case number, filing date, and exact document title; then distinguish viewing at a kiosk from requesting a copy or certified copy. Confirm whether the order remains in effect when you make the request, especially after its December 2026 expiration date. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help identify the record request. Call (800) 755-5174, or see the San Diego criminal defense page.