Rule 1031 As used in this article, “penitent” means a person who has made a penitential communication to a member of the clergy.

The word "penitent" has a specific legal meaning in California court cases. It refers to someone who has privately confessed or shared something personal with a religious leader, like a priest, minister, or pastor.

This definition matters because California law protects these private religious conversations. If you have spoken to a member of the clergy as part of a religious confession or similar practice, you are considered a "penitent" under this rule, and that conversation may be protected from being used in court.