§ 1276 Record of indictments, informations and bonds not public.

Here's what this rule means for you.

When someone is charged with a crime, the court keeps a copy of the indictment, the information, or the bond. That copy is normally kept private. The court clerk does not let the public see this backup record.

The only time this private record becomes public is if the original document goes missing. If the original indictment, information, or bond gets lost, stolen, or simply cannot be found, then the clerk's private copy can be used instead. At that point, it becomes part of the public record so the case can move forward.

This rule protects sensitive court records from being seen by the public unless there's a real need for the backup copy. It works like a safety net. The original document is what the courts normally use, but if something happens to it, this stored copy makes sure important case information isn't permanently lost.