Criminal Court – General Information Print this Page
Phone: (415) 444-7070
Email: criminal@marincourt.org
Location: Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room C-10
Office Hours: 8:00am - 3:00pm




Cases Filed in the Criminal Clerk's Office

The Criminal Clerk's Office files, processes, and maintains misdemeanor and felony records for cases filed by the Marin County District Attorney's Office and other prosecuting agencies.

Most of the contact that defendants have with the Court outside of the courtroom is handled in the Criminal Clerk's Office. Once cases have been sentenced by the Court and defendants have been placed on probation, they are often ordered to pay fines, perform community service work, and attend activities such as batterers' or drunk driving programs. Payments of criminal fines and proof of completion of programs are submitted in the Criminal Clerk's Office.

Legal Representation in Criminal Proceedings

California law mandates that all defendants in criminal hearings are entitled to legal representation. Many defendants retain the services of attorneys and pay those attorneys privately. For defendants who cannot afford private attorneys, the Court will appoint attorneys through the Office of the Public Defender or an indigent defense panel of attorneys called Alternate Defender's Inc. The Court will appoint counsel at the first hearing for any defendant who needs representation. Once attorneys are appointed, defendants will be required to complete financial screening forms to determine whether they are financially eligible for indigent defense services.

Criminal Research Requests

Cases filed with the Criminal Clerk's Office may be available for review by the public in the Court's Records Management Office in Room 113 of the Civic Center. Please click here for information on how to request a case record or register of actions for viewing and copying.

There is a $15 fee for each case when research must be performed by court staff. Please include a check made payable to Marin County Superior Court and send it to: Criminal Research, P.O. Box 4988, San Rafael, CA 94913. If requesting copies or other records-related services in addition to research, such as certification or exemplification of documents in case files, please review the amounts of these additional fees on the Court's Fee Schedule by clicking here. Then submit a check to the Court stating a "Not To Exceed" amount in the memo section of the check that allows for the cost of the research and any other records-related fees. Court staff will fill in the actual amount of the check once it is determined.

Understanding the Criminal Court Process

Cases processed in the criminal court proceed through several stages. Some of the terminology and reasons for various hearings may be confusing to defendants. To better understand the stages of a typical misdemeanor case, please click here.

Legal Assistance with Cases Filed in the Criminal Clerk's Office

There are resources available to help individuals in understanding criminal court processes or preparing to go to court. Some of these resources include:

  • California Courts Online Self Help Center. This resource is available to all Californians who are representing themselves in court or need legal information. To access this website, please click here.

Links to Specific Topics:
Overview

The Criminal Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., except holidays. The office is located on the Court Floor of the Marin County Civic Center Hall of Justice in Room C-10. For directions to the Civic Center, please click here.

The Marin County Civic Center has three drive-though arches. From the middle arch lobby only, take the elevator to the "C" floor. After passing through security screening, go left to the end of the hall to Room C-10. For individuals wishing to speak with a clerk in this office, please call (415) 444-7070 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Calls are answered in the order received. Since these phone lines are very busy, the best times to call are early afternoons.

The mailing address is:

Marin County Superior Court
Criminal Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 4988
San Rafael, CA 94913-4988


Interpreter Services

The Criminal Clerk's Office has several Spanish speaking clerks to assist the public. Some forms related to criminal proceedings are also available for review in Spanish.

In criminal hearings, interpreters are available in all languages in the courtroom to assist non-English speakers and to ensure that defendants understand the criminal charges they are facing and consequences at every stage of the court proceedings.

 
Disclaimer: The Marin County Superior Court has made every effort to provide accurate information at this website; however, inaccuracies and outdated information may be found here on occasion.
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