Section 915 Of Chapter 3. General Provisions Relating To Privileges From California Evidence Code >> Division 8. >> Chapter 3.
915
. (a) Subject to subdivision (b), the presiding officer may not
require disclosure of information claimed to be privileged under this
division or attorney work product under subdivision (a) of Section
2018.030 of the Code of Civil Procedure in order to rule on the claim
of privilege; provided, however, that in any hearing conducted
pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1524 of the Penal Code in
which a claim of privilege is made and the court determines that
there is no other feasible means to rule on the validity of the claim
other than to require disclosure, the court shall proceed in
accordance with subdivision (b).
(b) When a court is ruling on a claim of privilege under Article 9
(commencing with Section 1040) of Chapter 4 (official information
and identity of informer) or under Section 1060 (trade secret) or
under subdivision (b) of Section 2018.030 of the Code of Civil
Procedure (attorney work product) and is unable to do so without
requiring disclosure of the information claimed to be privileged, the
court may require the person from whom disclosure is sought or the
person authorized to claim the privilege, or both, to disclose the
information in chambers out of the presence and hearing of all
persons except the person authorized to claim the privilege and any
other persons as the person authorized to claim the privilege is
willing to have present. If the judge determines that the information
is privileged, neither the judge nor any other person may ever
disclose, without the consent of a person authorized to permit
disclosure, what was disclosed in the course of the proceedings in
chambers.