Following a recent court ruling by the Sacramento Third District Court of Appeal, coroner reports related to criminal investigations are no longer released as public records. While most autopsies can be requested through the Public Records Act, the court decided that withholding those related to homicides protects witnesses and victims, and allows investigations to proceed undisturbed. The court case was filed by author Kathryn Dixon after she was denied access to an autopsy related to a book she is writing. Dixon plans to appeal to the California Supreme Court. For more on the subject, read this article from the SF Gate.