In the past, when government agencies and the media requested court records from the Kern County Superior Court, they could typically access them for free.
Last month, however, that changed, due in part to a rising number of incoming record requests. According to some sources, rising court fees are becoming a national trend. In this interview, Valley Public Radio reporter Monica Velez breaks down the new policy to explain what’s changed, why it matters, and whether it has the potential to violate constitutional rights.