Also known as: in camera · chambers hearing
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A private judicial examination of documents or proceedings conducted outside public view. The court reviews sensitive material to determine relevance, privilege, or admissibility before deciding what portions may be disclosed.
Christian Coleman testified about verification steps and asked to review his annotated printout. The opposing party demanded the full document. The court examined the annotations in camera, redacted unrelated editorial notes, and ordered delivery of only the fact-checking portions.
Caleb Chang sought production of interrogation notes in his habeas case. The government resisted on national-security grounds. The district court ordered the materials produced for in camera inspection to assess whether any portions supported the detainee's claims.
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Christopher Collins subpoenaed Oval Office recordings for a criminal trial. The President asserted executive privilege. The Court directed that the tapes be submitted for in camera review so the trial judge could excise any truly privileged segments.
Curtis Cannon sued a broadcaster that aired his entire human-cannonball act. The station claimed fair use. The court reviewed the fifteen-second clip in camera to determine how much of the performance had actually been shown and whether the broadcast appropriated the act's commercial value.
Corinne Cho challenged the constitutionality of a police chase captured on video. The district court viewed the dash-cam footage in camera to evaluate whether the officer's actions were objectively reasonable under the circumstances.
Craig Caldwell alleged that a studio's time-shifting technology infringed his copyrights. The court examined sample recordings in camera to assess whether the technology merely enabled private viewing or facilitated unauthorized public distribution.
Rule 612(b) requires in camera inspection whenever the producing party claims that a writing used to refresh recollection contains unrelated matter. The court deletes only the unrelated portions and orders delivery of the rest to the adverse party.
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No. After examining the material in camera the court may determine that nothing relates to the witness's testimony or that the entire document is privileged, in which case no disclosure occurs.
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If the producing party refuses production after the court orders disclosure of the non-privileged or related portions, the court must strike the witness's testimony or declare a mistrial when justice so requires.
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…in confidentiality and does not implicate military, diplomatic, or other sensitive national security secrets, production for in camera inspection under protective procedures does not significantly diminish confidentiality, and an absolute privilege would conflict with the judicial function. The judicial role in criminal…