CA AB1987

Expands postconviction discovery rights to defendants convicted of serious or violent felonies with sentences of 15 years or more, previously limited to death or life-without-parole cases.

Requires courts to grant defendants reasonable access to prosecution and law enforcement materials upon showing good faith efforts to obtain them from trial counsel were unsuccessful.

Mandates trial counsel retain copies of client files for the duration of imprisonment in cases involving serious or violent felonies with 15+ year sentences.

Allows courts discretion to grant subsequent discovery orders in non-capital cases where a previous discovery order was already entered.

Requests the State Bar study attorney duties regarding client file release and retention in postconviction discovery contexts.