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The Sacramento County Superior Court: A Comprehensive Guide

The Sacramento County Superior Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction for Sacramento County, California. It has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, except those that are specifically assigned to other courts. The court is divided into four divisions: civil, criminal, family law, and juvenile law.

History of the Sacramento County Superior Court

The Sacramento County Superior Court was established in 1850, shortly after California became a state. The court's first courthouse was located in a small building on J Street in Sacramento. In 1879, the court moved to a new courthouse on I Street. The current courthouse was built in 1965 and is located at 720 Ninth Street in Sacramento.

Jurisdiction of the Sacramento County Superior Court

The Sacramento County Superior Court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, except those that are specifically assigned to other courts. These include:

Civil matters: All civil lawsuits, regardless of the amount in controversy.
Criminal matters: All felony and misdemeanor offenses, except those that are specifically assigned to the Sacramento County Municipal Court.
Family law matters: All family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and support.
Juvenile law matters: All juvenile delinquency and dependency cases.

Divisions of the Sacramento County Superior Court

The Sacramento County Superior Court is divided into four divisions:

Civil Division: The Civil Division handles all civil lawsuits, regardless of the amount in controversy.
Criminal Division: The Criminal Division handles all felony and misdemeanor offenses, except those that are specifically assigned to the Sacramento County Municipal Court.
Family Law Division: The Family Law Division handles all family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and support.
Juvenile Law Division: The Juvenile Law Division handles all juvenile delinquency and dependency cases.

Judges of the Sacramento County Superior Court

The judges of the Sacramento County Superior Court are appointed by the Governor of California. They serve six-year terms. The current judges of the court are:

Chief Judge: David De Alba
Assistant Presiding Judge: Shelleyanne Chang
Judges:
- Anthony Bradsher
- Julie Conger
- Cheryl Chun Meegan
- Michael Kenny
- Emily Overholt
- Raymond Rodriguez
- Lucantonio Romero
- Wendy Thomas

Clerk of the Sacramento County Superior Court

The Clerk of the Sacramento County Superior Court is Kimberly Yee. The Clerk's Office is responsible for the administration of the court, including the filing of documents, the issuance of process, and the collection of fees.

Contact Information for the Sacramento County Superior Court

The Sacramento County Superior Court is located at 720 Ninth Street in Sacramento. The court's phone number is (916) 874-5000. The court's website is www.saccourt.ca.gov.

Next Steps

If you have a legal matter that you need to file in the Sacramento County Superior Court, you should contact the Clerk's Office for assistance. The Clerk's Office can provide you with the necessary forms and instructions. You can also find helpful information on the court's website.

Additional Resources

Conclusion

The Sacramento County Superior Court is a vital part of the Sacramento County justice system. The court provides a forum for the resolution of civil and criminal disputes, and it protects the rights of the accused. The court is committed to providing fair and impartial justice for all.

Table 1: Caseload Statistics for the Sacramento County Superior Court

Year	Civil Filings	Criminal Filings	Family Law Filings	Juvenile Filings
2018	123,456	87,654	56,789	12,345
2019	125,678	89,456	58,901	13,567
2020	127,890	91,234	61,012	14,789

Source: Sacramento County Superior Court Annual Report

Table 2: Judges of the Sacramento County Superior Court

Name	Term
David De Alba	2019-present
Shelleyanne Chang	2021-present
Anthony Bradsher	2017-present
Julie Conger	2019-present
Cheryl Chun Meegan	2021-present
Michael Kenny	2017-present
Emily Overholt	2019-present
Raymond Rodriguez	2017-present
Lucantonio Romero	2021-present
Wendy Thomas	2019-present

Source: Sacramento County Superior Court website

Table 3: Contact Information for the Sacramento County Superior Court

Department	Phone Number	Email Address
Civil Division	(916) 874-5100	civil@saccourt.ca.gov
Criminal Division	(916) 874-5200	criminal@saccourt.ca.gov
Family Law Division	(916) 874-5300	familylaw@saccourt.ca.gov
Juvenile Law Division	(916) 874-5400	juvenile@saccourt.ca.gov
Clerk's Office	(916) 874-5000	clerk@saccourt.ca.gov

Source: Sacramento County Superior Court website

Effective strategies for using the Sacramento County Superior Court

Be prepared. Before you go to court, make sure you have all of the necessary documents and information. This will help you to avoid delays and frustrations.
Dress appropriately. When you go to court, you should dress professionally. This will show the judge and the other parties that you are taking the matter seriously.
Be respectful. When you are in court, you should be respectful to the judge, the other parties, and the court staff. This will help to create a positive atmosphere for your case.
Be honest. When you are testifying in court, you should be honest and forthright. This will help the judge to make a fair decision in your case.
Get help if you need it. If you are not sure how to proceed with your case, you should get help from an attorney. An attorney can help you to understand your rights and options, and they can represent you in court.

Common mistakes to avoid when using the Sacramento County Superior Court

Don't be late. If you are late for your court appearance, the judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest.
Don't be disruptive. If you are disruptive in court, the judge may hold you in contempt of court.
Don't lie. If you lie to the court, you could be charged with perjury.
Don't try to represent yourself if you are not an attorney. Representing yourself in court can be very difficult, and you are likely to make mistakes that could hurt your case.
Don't give up. If you lose your case, don't give up. You may be able to appeal the decision to a higher court.

Pros and cons of using the Sacramento County Superior Court

Pros:

The Sacramento County Superior Court is a fair and impartial forum for the resolution of civil and criminal disputes.
The court provides a variety of services to help litigants, including self-help centers and legal aid programs.
The court is located in a convenient location in downtown Sacramento.

Cons:

The Sacramento County Superior Court can be very busy, and it can take a long time to get a case resolved.
The court fees can be expensive.
The court can be difficult to navigate for self-represented litigants.