California statute
Cal. Penal Code § 686.2
Current through 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12)
Part of Part 2: Of Criminal Procedure, California Penal Code.
Full text of Cal. Penal Code § 686.2
Statutory text current through the 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of California.
(a) The court may, after holding a hearing and making the findings set forth in subdivision (b), order the removal of any spectator who is intimidating a witness. (b) The court may order the removal of a spectator only if it finds all of the following by clear and convincing evidence: (1) The spectator to be removed is actually engaging in intimidation of the witness. (2) The witness will not be able to give full, free, and complete testimony unless the spectator is removed. (3) Removal of the spectator is the only reasonable means of ensuring that the witness may give full, free, and complete testimony. (c) Subdivision (a) shall not be used as a means of excluding the press or a defendant from attendance at any portion of a criminal proceeding.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.