Courts Decline To Conduct An In Camera Review Of Withheld Documents

Although in many situations courts conduct an in camera review of withheld documents to determine the validity of a privilege or work product claim, courts can decline to conduct an in camera review for a number of reasons.

In Bozella v. County of Dutchess, No. 10 Civ. 4917 (CS) (GAY), 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 149586, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 17, 2012), Magistrate Judge Yanthis did "not see any need for an in camera review" of emails between co-counsel which were clearly prepared in anticipation of litigation. Eight days later, the Kentucky Supreme Court recognized that conducting an in camera review falls within the trial court's "sound discretion." Collins v. Braden, No. 2011-SC-000770-MR, 2012 Ky. LEXIS 180, at *28 (Ky. Oct. 25, 2012). The court noted that an in camera review "can have its limitations," in part because such a review "can overly burden a trial court." Id. at *27.