In Camera Review

Definition

In camera is a Latin term meaning “in chambers.” It refers to a hearing or discussions with the judge in the privacy of his/her chambers (office rooms) or when spectators and jurors have been excluded from the courtroom. An in camera examination may be made of confidential or sensitive information (e.g., raw test data) to determine whether to introduce it to the jury and make it part of public record. An in camera hearing can be either on or off the record, though they are usually recorded. In camera hearings are often held to shield a jury from any potential bias caused by controversial matters, or to protect the privacy of the people involved, and are common in cases of guardianships, personal injury, medical malpractice, adoptions, and custody disputes alleging child abuse. In forensic neuropsychology, in camera reviews most often take place in response to a neuropsychologist’s duty/request to protect the security of the raw test data. He/she makes a request that the...