California court records by county: case search and dispositions
9 counties of California have a court records page. Each names the court that hears felony cases, the office that keeps the files, California's statewide court source and how to find a case by name.
What a California court records background check costs
The count near any address is free. No card, and no one is told you looked.
Everyone near one address, or a Background Check on one person.
- Photos, offence and distance, with a PDF
- Pay once. Nothing renews
- $19.99 for 3, and checks never expire
Three addresses watched all year, with one check included every month.
- Email when someone registers, moves in or out
- Home, school and grandparents, unlocked while it runs
- Or $6.99 a month. Cancel in one click
Every record type for the state on one page: California criminal records.
California court records by county: case search and dispositions. 9 pages, largest county first.
| County | Felony court | County court records | Court records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno County · 1,017,162 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Fresno County court records |
| Kern County · 913,820 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Kern County court records |
| San Joaquin County · 800,965 | Superior Court | Statewide source | San Joaquin County court records |
| Stanislaus County · 551,430 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Stanislaus County court records |
| Tulare County · 479,468 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Tulare County court records |
| Santa Cruz County · 261,547 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Santa Cruz County court records |
| Butte County · 207,172 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Butte County court records |
| Shasta County · 180,366 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Shasta County court records |
| Madera County · 162,858 | Superior Court | Statewide source | Madera County court records |
Populations: US Census Bureau, 2023 estimates. A county gets a page only when its jail roster is live in the search and it has at least three facts of its own to state.
· shares below are over the California court records we index; approximate, not an official figure
How California court cases end: convictions, dismissals and pending cases. About 157,000 records across California, read as a whole; approximate, not an official figure.
Among the California court records we index that state a charge, the most common category of categorised charges is domestic violence (6%), followed by probation/parole violations and failure to appear (5%) and drug possession (2%). A record can carry charges in several categories, so the shares of categorised charges can add to more than 100%.
Every figure is a share of the records we index for California, rounded; approximate, not an official figure. Cells with too few records behind them are left out rather than shown as zero. The county pages carry the same picture for each county where enough records exist; criminal charge types explains the categories.
California court case search: the courts and the clerk.
Felony cases in California are heard in the Superior Court, which hears misdemeanors too, and the Superior Court clerk’s office keeps the case files. California publishes a statewide court source, and a name search here includes it, so a result can show the disposition.
A name is a weak key on a court index. The court case search by name page explains how a name fails and what narrows it; the court records search page covers the record layer itself.
Beyond California court records: jail rosters and arrest records by county. The same counties, the other two questions.
California background check: search court records by name.
- Type a first and last name, and add an age or date of birth so the right person rises to the top.
- The check searches every California record type in the search, with the sex offender registries, in one step.
- One paid check, with a personal account. Nothing renews, and the person is never told.
Not a consumer report. Hiring or renting? Use an FCRA-regulated check; see what an employer’s check shows.
California court records FAQ
How do I search California court records by name?
Pick the county below, then search the full name with a date of birth; a name alone matches everyone who shares it. The Superior Court clerk’s office can search by name and date of birth or by case number.
Which court hears criminal cases in California?
Felony cases are heard in the Superior Court, which hears misdemeanors too. The Superior Court clerk’s office keeps the case files.
Does California publish court records statewide?
Yes. California publishes a statewide court source, and it is part of a name search here, so a result can show how a case ended.
What does a disposition mean on a California court record?
How the case ended: a conviction (including a guilty plea), a dismissal, an acquittal, a diversion, or nothing yet because the case is open. It is the one part of a criminal record that speaks to an outcome.
Can a California court record be expunged?
Often, for some outcomes, on petition after a waiting period; the rules are California's. Once an order is entered the clerk marks the file and it leaves the public record. This is a general description, not legal advice.