In camera review is examination by the judge outside the presence of the parties and the public. Its principal use is inspecting documents withheld on privilege or confidentiality grounds to determine whether protection applies.
The reviewing court may also conduct in camera proceedings on sensitive matters.
Alternative Names:
In Chambers, Private Judicial Inspection
Why it Matters?
Requesting in camera review is the standard response to a contested privilege log, and it is often preferable to litigating the claim on descriptions alone. The practical constraint is volume: courts will not review thousands of documents, so a request should be limited to a targeted sample or the specific documents genuinely in dispute. Offering a sample is more likely to be granted than demanding wholesale review.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
When do courts conduct in camera review?
Will a court review an entire production?
