Question
I have a request pending with a government agency, and based on questions answered in an interview, I would like to withdraw a portion of the request.
Is it possible to withdraw a portion of a request under California public records law? Or would withdrawing a portion nullify my rights to the other records (and technically, I could be forced to start the process all over again)?
Answer
There is no downside to withdrawing part of your request or narrowing your original request. Indeed, I imagine the agency will be quite happy about it – less work for it. Out of an abundance of caution you might want to re-state which records you are still seeking.
Bryan Cave LLP is general counsel for the First Amendment Coalition and responds to FAC hotline inquiries. In responding to these inquiries, we can give general information regarding open government and speech issues but cannot provide specific legal advice or representation.
Asked & Answered posts should not be relied on as legal advice, and FAC makes no guarantees about their completeness or accuracy. All posts carry a date of publication that readers should take note of in assessing their usefulness, given that laws and interpretations of them may change over time. Posts predating Jan. 1, 2023, that discuss the California Public Records Act may contain statute numbers no longer in use. Please see this page for a table showing how the California Public Records Act has been renumbered.