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 - 4:00pm




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 Records 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 112 of the Civic Center. Please click here for information on how to request a case record or register of actions for viewing and copying.

To obtain criminal case files that are closed and no longer stored at the courthouse, there may be a nominal charge for requests to research off-site files. Requests may be made in writing, by phone, by email or in person. All written requests must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. To request certified copies, there is a charge for each page copied plus an additional charge for each certification. Please see the Court's Filing Fee Schedule to determine these costs by clicking here. Please allow up to four weeks for the Court to complete this work.

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:

  • Legal Self Help Services, Civic Center, Hall of Justice in Room 244, San Rafael. The telephone number is (415) 444-7130.
  • 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 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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