Government
Mar. 31, 2026
Appeals court backs subpoena power for sheriff oversight boards
In a key test of a 2021 reform law, the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled that oversight bodies have subpoena authority, a decision expected to reshape conflicts between sheriffs and civilian boards.
In the first test of a new law designed to establish more oversight of California's elected sheriffs, a 1st District Court of Appeal panel reversed a trial judge and ruled that Sonoma County's civilian watchdog agency can subpoena deputies in a misconduct investigation.
The ruling gives teeth to the new law and is likely to encourage more counties to establish oversight boards, as a dozen have done so far. A Los Angeles County sheriff oversight agency official said Monday ...
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