Incident details
- Updated on
- Date of incident
- November 13, 2024
- Location
- Stockton, California
In California, a former San Joaquin County Superior Court clerk was charged on Nov. 13, 2024, with violating a court order, above, by releasing a copy of a sealed search warrant to Stockton Record reporter Aaron Leathley in November 2023.
California court clerk averts trial over leaked document
Pamela Edwards — a former clerk for the San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton, California — entered into a pretrial diversion program on June 23, 2025, in connection with her allegedly releasing a sealed search warrant to a reporter.
In November 2023, San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies searched the home of the Stockton Unified School District board president and the school board’s headquarters as part of a misconduct investigation. Later that month, Stockton Record reporter Aaron Leathley reported on various details from the search warrant, a copy of which the paper had obtained from the Superior Court.
A public information officer for the court then told Leathley that the warrant had been released accidentally, and the Sheriff’s Office claimed Edwards had violated a court order by releasing it.
Edwards was arrested in November 2024 and charged with willful disobedience of a court order.
The Sheriff’s Office also launched an investigation into Leathley and another Stockton newspaper reporter, calling them “co-conspirators” in the leak.
In June 2025, the court began preparing for Edwards’ jury trial, but later that month, Edwards entered the diversion program, under which prosecution is postponed while the defendant fulfills certain conditions. The program does not require the defendant to admit guilt and allows the arrest to be expunged after completion.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker via email that the program’s terms require Edwards to obey all laws, not commit any similar offenses, and complete 10 hours of community service at an area Boys & Girls Club.
The case is scheduled for dismissal in June 2026.
Pamela Edwards — a former clerk for the San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton, California — was charged on Nov. 13, 2024, with allegedly releasing a sealed search warrant to a reporter a year prior.
In November 2023, sheriff’s deputies searched the home of the Stockton Unified School District board president and the school board’s headquarters as part of an investigation into the official’s alleged misuse of a school district credit card, witness intimidation and other misconduct.
Later that month, Stockton Record reporter Aaron Leathley reported on various details from the search warrant, a copy of which the paper had obtained from the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
A day after the article was published, the Record reported, a public information officer for the court emailed Leathley to tell her that the warrant had been released accidentally and ask her “to prevent any further dissemination of this document by copying, sharing, or using it for further publication.” The sheriff’s office also said at the time that the warrant should not have been released, according to the Record.
A statement from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office called the warrant “highly sensitive” and said Edwards had violated a court order by releasing it.
“At no time was the warrant ‘unsealed’ and its release may have negatively impacted our investigation,” the statement said. “We consulted with the District Attorney’s Office, and we are in agreement that we could not allow this egregious violation of trust and criminal act by a 27-year veteran of our justice community (who knew better and is held to a higher standard) not to be accountable for her actions.”
Two deputies visited Leathley at her Stockton home on Aug. 30, 2024, to question her about the release of the search warrant and a “cease and desist” they claimed she was sent. When contacted at the time, a sheriff’s department spokesperson told the Tracker that there was an ongoing investigation.
Edwards was ultimately arrested in November and charged with willful disobedience of a court order, according to a news release from District Attorney Ronald Freitas.
“Violating the sanctity of a Court Order, especially a sealed warrant, is not only an assault on our justice system but puts law enforcement and potential witnesses in harm’s way,” Freitas said. “We will hold all those involved in this case fully responsible for this violation of our courts and our justice system.”
Edwards’ arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 4.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
