Transcripts to remain sealed at least two extra days
Attorneys will meet two days later than scheduled, due to a court holiday, to discuss the sealing of a transcript from a grand jury that indicted a former sheriff’s deputy.
Judge Harry Tobias originally scheduled former San Benito County sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Rodrigues to appear in court Feb. 12. The San Benito County Superior Court is closed then because of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Rodrigues will be back in court Feb. 14, when attorneys and Tobias will discuss whether a transcript should remain sealed from the grand jury that indicted the 25-year office veteran on eight felony charges.
On Jan. 2, Judge Steven Sanders ruled the transcript remained sealed at the request of District Attorney Candice Hooper until Rodrigues appeared in court. Hooper contended the transcript should remain sealed to protect the identity of the victims, but those names were made available to the public in court filings both before and after the district attorney’s request.
Rodrigues appeared in court Jan. 22, when Tobias ruled that the transcript remain sealed until Feb. 12.
Under California law, grand jury transcripts are made public 10 days after the defendant or the defense attorney has been delivered the indictment.
