Criminal Court – Appearances Print this Page
Phone: (415) 444-7070
Email: criminal@marincourt.org
Location: Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room C-10
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm


When defendants are arrested and booked at the
Marin County Jail for an alleged criminal offense, two outcomes are possible. The defendant may be detained in jail until arraigned by the court or may be released and given a 'promise to appear' date for the first court appearance on the offense. Defendants must appear in court on the date and time stated on paperwork that they receive when released from the Marin County Jail or, if not booked at the Jail, on a letter received from the District Attorney's Office. Most appearances in criminal court are mandatory. The Court may issue bench warrants for individuals who fail to appear in court as required.

To schedule court appearances on their own, defendants may request the Clerk's Office to place their cases on the court calendar. This may be necessary if defendants failed to appear for their scheduled court dates. This may be done in person at the Clerk's Office or by calling (415) 444-7070

All court appearances are listed on the television monitors on the wall outside Courtroom M near the security screening station. Defendants will find their names and the location of their hearings on these monitors. Defendants who cannot find their names on the monitors should proceed to the Clerk's Office to find out the status of their cases. In some instances, the reason the case does not appear on the monitor is because the District Attorney's Office has not filed it. Defendants can then contact the District Attorney's Office for more information in Room 130 of the Civic Center or at (415) 499-6450.

To postpone a court appearance or request a continuance of an appearance date, defendants may ask the Clerk's Office to notify the judicial officer assigned to the case. A defendant may contact the Clerk's Office on the day following the request for their court date continuance to find out whether it has been granted. The judicial officer will determine whether or not to grant the continuance and may order a bench warrant if the request is denied and the defendant fails to appear.

Items to Bring to Court.

  • Personal identification (driver's license, passport, or other picture identification);
  • Copy of the citation, jail release paperwork, notice of hearing or letter from District Attorney's Office;
  • Bail bond or cash bail receipts;
  • Copies of sentencing minute orders and probation department paperwork;
  • Cash, cashier's checks, money orders, personal checks or credit cards to pay court ordered fines and fees.

Please note: Do not use any nicknames or aliases on your court paperwork. Use the same spelling as listed on the documents related to the case, and advise the Court if the spelling on the documents is not correct.

Overview

The Criminal Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 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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