Inyo County Courthouse: Finding Your Court Date

Inyo County hears criminal cases at both of its courthouses, in Independence and in Bishop; each is reached at (760) 872-3038. The Independence courthouse is at 168 North Edwards Street, and the Bishop courthouse is at 301 West Line Street. Which one hears a specific case depends on where it is filed.

Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Inyo County?

Inyo runs two courthouses, in Independence and Bishop, and the court's own materials say both hear criminal matters, not just one.

Inyo County Superior Court's own Criminal Division page says "There are two locations where a criminal case may be heard in Inyo County," Independence and Bishop, and each courthouse's own location page says it serves "All Cases." If you were arrested anywhere in Inyo County, the notice to appear, the citation, or the court clerk is the reliable way to learn which of the two courthouses your specific case was filed in; do not assume it is simply the one closer to where the arrest happened. Both courthouses share one phone number, (760) 872-3038, answered 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on court days, and the same general office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. For custody status, the same page says to call the Inyo County Correctional Facility at (760) 878-0370; see our Inyo County Jail guide, and our courthouse and jail guides by county for other counties.

How do I look up an Inyo County criminal case?

Inyo County Superior Court's own online services page does not list a case-lookup portal, so calling the court or asking the clerk is the reliable option.

Inyo County Superior Court's own Online Services page lists options for paying traffic citations and criminal fines, checking jury status, and reaching the statewide self-help center, but it does not list a public online case-search tool. To check on a specific case, call the court's general line, (760) 872-3038, during its 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. phone hours, or send a traffic-specific question to Inyo.traffic@inyocourt.ca.gov and any other question to info@inyocourt.ca.gov. The court's own navigation also lists a Court Calendar page for checking scheduled hearing dates.

What happens at your first court date in Inyo County?

At arraignment, the judge explains the charge, confirms you know your right to a lawyer, and can set or change bail.

A statewide clock, not a local one, controls how quickly someone held after an arrest gets in front of a judge. Penal Code section 825(a)(1) requires that "the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays," extended through the end of the next court session on the following court day if the 48 hours run out while court is closed (Penal Code section 825(a)(2)). A Wednesday arrest follows its own rule instead: once that day's session has closed, and as long as the Wednesday is not a court holiday, the person must still reach a judge by the following Friday, unless Friday is also a court holiday. Reaching a judge on time is a separate thing from being charged on time, and neither one is a guarantee of release.

At a misdemeanor arraignment, Inyo County Superior Court's own materials say a defendant who pleads guilty may be sentenced the same day, unless the judge wants a probation report first, and a defendant who pleads not guilty gets a trial date, within 30 days if the person is in custody or 45 days if not, unless the right to a speedy trial is waived. Under Penal Code section 1382, a later trial date is also allowed when good cause is shown.

Bail is usually part of that same hearing. Inyo County Superior Court's own felony and misdemeanor bail schedule, Standing Order No. SISOAD-17-046 (filed July 11, 2017, effective September 1, 2017, under Penal Code section 1269b(c)), sets a starting bail figure by offense, with $5,000 as the default for an unlisted misdemeanor, but the order itself puts the real decision elsewhere: the judicial officer at that appearance has "sound discretion" to set an amount "greater or less than" the printed schedule. Two cases from the California Supreme Court explain how that discretion has to be used. In re Humphrey (2021) bars a judge from keeping someone locked up before trial only because the person cannot afford bail; a judge who sets money bail must consider the person's ability to pay and whether nonfinancial conditions could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's appearance in court. In re Kowalczyk (April 30, 2026) narrows a separate question: outside capital cases, a judge can refuse bail entirely, rather than just set a high figure, only for the offenses in California Constitution article I, section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c), and money bail must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable. See how California bail amounts are set and what happens at an arraignment for the fuller statewide picture.

Can you appear remotely in an Inyo County criminal case?

No. The court's posted notice says Inyo Superior Court does not allow remote appearances in criminal matters; Penal Code 977 decides when a lawyer can appear in your place.

The court's remote appearance requirements, posted on its Court Calendar page, cover Zoom appearances in civil, family, probate, juvenile dependency and small claims matters, and state: "The Inyo Superior Court does not allow remote appearances in Criminal or Juvenile Delinquency matters." Penal Code section 977 decides when a defendant must be there in person. In a misdemeanor-only case, the defendant may appear through a lawyer, except that a misdemeanor domestic violence case requires the defendant at arraignment and sentencing, and in a DUI case the judge may order the defendant to be present at arraignment, plea, or sentencing. In a felony case, the defendant must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, the parts of the trial where evidence is taken, and sentencing. Ask the clerk or your lawyer before missing any hearing.

What should you bring and know before going to court in Inyo County?

Bring photo identification and your court papers, allow time for parking and security screening, and ask for an interpreter as early as possible.

Bring a government-issued photo identification and any citation, notice to appear, or paperwork connected to the arrest, and arrive with enough time to find the correct courthouse, since Inyo hears criminal matters at both Independence and Bishop. Inyo County Superior Court's own Local Rules were last revised July 1, 2025 and apply only within Inyo County; ask the clerk's office directly whether a specific local filing or appearance rule applies to your case.

At Bishop, park on the street or in the City-owned lot on Church Street and enter from the rear off Church Street. In Independence, park on the streets around the courthouse campus (Center, Market and Jackson) and use the north entry on Center Street, where Department 3 has ADA access. Expect security screening with a metal detector and a bag x-ray. Inside, find your name and department on the wall calendar; if it is not on a criminal calendar list, go to the clerk's office, as the court's Criminal Division page advises.

The right to an interpreter comes from the state Constitution: "a person unable to understand English who is charged with a crime has a right to an interpreter throughout the proceedings" (California Constitution, article I, section 14). In a criminal case the interpreter's cost is a charge against the court, not the defendant (Evidence Code section 752(b)(1)). Inyo's court website has no page on requesting an interpreter, so tell the clerk, the judge, or your lawyer as soon as you know one is needed; the Judicial Council's statewide guide, Ask for an interpreter, explains the general steps.

Who are Inyo County's district attorney and probation department, and how do you get a court-appointed lawyer?

The district attorney and probation department keep separate offices in Independence and Bishop, and a defendant who cannot afford a lawyer can ask the court to appoint one.

Both probation offices keep the same hours: Monday, 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., then Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., with weekends closed. Money should not keep anyone from having a lawyer at arraignment: the law obligates the judge to explain that right on the spot (Penal Code sections 858 and 859), and a separate statute, Penal Code section 987, puts the court on the hook to appoint one for a defendant who asks and cannot pay.

Does Inyo County have collaborative or treatment courts?

Yes: the court's own posted weekly calendar lists Drug Court hearings in Department 4 at the Bishop courthouse, though its list of divisions names no separate collaborative court.

The weekly calendar linked from the court's Court Calendar page sets Drug Court hearings in Department 4, the Bishop calendar. Ask a criminal defense lawyer whether a specific charge could lead to that calendar, or could qualify for a diversion program under state law, such as the mental health or military diversion statutes.

Frequently asked questions

Does Inyo County have a separate courthouse for traffic cases?

No. The court lists two courthouses, in Independence and Bishop, and each location's own page says it serves "All Cases." Both share the general Superior Court line, (760) 872-3038.

How do I pay a traffic citation or criminal fine in Inyo County?

Inyo County Superior Court's own Online Services page lists an online payment option for traffic citations, criminal fines, and trials by written declaration; use that page rather than mailing cash.

How much is bail in Inyo County?

Inyo County Superior Court's bail schedule, Standing Order No. SISOAD-17-046 (effective September 1, 2017), sets a starting figure by offense, with $5,000 as the default for an unlisted misdemeanor. A judge can set a different amount at arraignment, and money bail actually set must generally be reasonably attainable (In re Kowalczyk, 2026).

Do I need a lawyer at my first Inyo County court appearance?

You have the right to one. The judge must tell you about your right to counsel at arraignment (Penal Code sections 858 and 859), and if you want a lawyer and cannot afford one, Penal Code section 987 requires the court to appoint counsel.

Can I ask for a lower bail amount before my Inyo County arraignment?

Yes. The arrested person, a lawyer, or a friend or family member can ask a judge for a lower amount or own recognizance release under Penal Code section 1269c, except for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1.

Where is the Inyo County Probation Department?

It has two offices: 201 Mazourka Canyon Road, Independence, CA 93526, phone (760) 878-0274, and 1360 N. Main Street, Suite 162, Bishop, CA 93514, phone (760) 872-4111. Both are open Monday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.

What if I cannot find my courtroom at the Inyo County Courthouse?

Check the calendar on the courthouse wall for your name and department; if your name is not on a criminal calendar list, go to the clerk's office. Before driving, call (760) 872-3038 between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. to confirm whether the case is in Independence or Bishop.

Talk to a lawyer about your Inyo County case

If a criminal case in Inyo County is in front of you or a family member, talk to a lawyer before the arraignment date at either Independence or Bishop. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free, confidential consultation, available 24 hours a day, with payment plans and service in Spanish. Call (800) 755-5174, request a free consultation online, or visit our criminal defense lawyer page.