Is a criminal defendant entitled to discovery of confidential police officer personnel records?

A criminal defendant is entitled to the discovery of confidential police officer personnel records if the information contained therein is relevant to her ability to defend against the charge. (Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531, 537-538.) To obtain such records, the defendant must submit an affidavit showing good cause for the discovery. (Evid. Code, 1043, subd. (b)(3).) A showing of good cause requires a defendant seeking Pitchess discovery "to establish . . . a logical link between [a proposed defense] and the pending charge" and "to articulate how the discovery being sought would support such a defense or how it would impeach the officer's version of events."

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(Warrick v. Superior Court (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1011, 1021.) Discoverable information is "limited to instances of officer misconduct related to the misconduct asserted by the defendant. [Citations.]" (Ibid.)