State Ex Rel. Costello v. Cottrell

The issue in this mandamus proceeding is whether defendant judge, a circuit court judge presiding over a grandparent visitation proceeding in Deschutes County, erred in ordering discovery of a sealed Grant County adoption file. We hold that defendant judge erred. We therefore direct that a peremptory writ of mandamus shall issue requiring defendant judge to vacate the discovery order.

Child 1 was born on May 19, 1989. At the time of child’s birth, plaintiff-relator was married to birth mother; they were not married at the time child was conceived. Birth mother committed suicide in January…