Tony Saavedra

An Orange County Superior Court judge has rejected an attempt by the union representing sheriff’s deputies to block the release of disciplinary records under a new state police transparency law. Judge Nathan Scott ruled Thursday that public accountability trumped the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs’ fight to protect the privacy of its members. Scott, however, let stand the seal on personnel documents until March 15 to give the association time to file an appeal.

The union that represents Orange County sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday announced an agreement with the department to address concerns raised in a lawsuit alleging that unsafe jail conditions and staff reductions led to the high-profile escape of three inmates in 2016.