What Should You Expect at the Madera County Courthouse?

Madera County's only courthouse for criminal cases is Madera Superior Court, 200 South G Street, Madera, CA 93637. The court's online portal can look up a case by its case or citation number, but only after you register for an account.

Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Madera County?

Unlike some larger counties, Madera County runs its criminal cases through a single courthouse building, the Main Courthouse on South G Street.

Filing windows at the Main Courthouse are open 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a drop box available from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. for filings, Monday through Friday except court holidays; cash payments cannot go in the drop box at any time. Phones are staffed on the same 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. schedule.

How do you find a Madera County criminal case and your court date?

Madera Superior Court's Online Portal searches case records by case or citation number once you register for an account; on your court date, the posted calendars show your courtroom.

1. To search the Online Portal, register for an account at the court's Online Portal, using the account-creation instructions linked from its home screen, then search by case or citation number; the court's own disclaimer describes the tool as built "for a particular case / citation number," so have that number ready if you can.
2. General public access is limited to 45 searches per day. Attorneys and specified government agencies can request expanded access through the court.
3. If you would rather skip registering, check the posted court calendars for your name on your court date to find your assigned courtroom, or report to the Criminal Division in person with identification and information about the arrest, such as jail release paperwork, a notice to appear, or an arraignment letter.
4. The same portal also hosts a Domestic Violence and Gun Violence Petition e-filing feature. That is a separate restraining-order process, not a general case search, and it needs the same account.
5. For a formal record search instead, the clerk's office charges $15.00 per name, per index; copies of documents cost $.50 per page, with an additional $25.00 per case if you need certification.

For custody information instead of a case number, see our Madera County Jail guide; for other counties, see our courthouse and jail guides by county.

What happens at your first court date in Madera County?

At the arraignment you hear the charges and a plea is entered; a person held in custody must be brought there within 48 hours, not counting Sundays and holidays.

For a person held in custody, 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." This is not a deadline for filing charges, and it does not promise anyone's release; it only controls how soon a judge gets involved. If those 48 hours end while the court is closed, the deadline carries over through the end of the next court session on the following court day (Penal Code section 825(a)(2)). Someone arrested on a Wednesday after court has closed must be brought before a judge by Friday, if neither day is a court holiday.

Madera Superior Court's own outline of a criminal case describes arraignment as the step where "the accused (now defendant) is informed of the charges against them," followed, for a felony, by a preliminary hearing to decide "whether or not there is probable cause to believe that the act committed is in fact a crime." Before that first appearance, bail is the amount on an arrest warrant or, with no warrant, the court's 2026 Felony Bail Schedule (Including Selected Misdemeanors), effective January 2, 2026, which sets a starting figure by offense. Once a judge sets bail at an appearance, the judge's amount controls (Penal Code section 1269b(b)); the schedule itself says that amount may be greater or less. Under In re Humphrey (2021), where money bail is necessary, the judge must consider the person's ability to pay, and should consider whether nonfinancial conditions could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's presence at trial. The California Supreme Court's 2026 decision in In re Kowalczyk adds that money bail must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable, though not necessarily easily affordable. Kowalczyk separately confirmed that, outside a capital case, a judge can deny bail altogether only for the narrow list of offenses in California Constitution article I, section 12(b) and (c); every other case is a question of how much, not whether. Read how California bail amounts are set for the complete rule, and our Madera County Jail guide for the custody and booking side of a new arrest.

Can you appear remotely in a Madera County criminal case?

Sometimes: Madera Superior Court allows remote video appearances in criminal cases on Zoom, but state law keeps several hearings in person, including any trial and a felony sentencing.

The court's Remote Video Appearances page says that "remote video appearances are authorized for criminal and civil cases" and that the court "is utilizing 'Zoom' as the preferred remote appearance platform." To ask for one, fill out the Zoom Appearance Request Form linked on that page; the court says certain limitations apply and points to that form for details. State law sets the outer limits (Penal Code section 977). In a misdemeanor-only case, a lawyer can appear for the defendant, and with the defendant's agreement any proceeding except a jury or court trial may be held remotely; in a domestic violence misdemeanor or a Penal Code section 273.6 case the defendant must be present for arraignment and sentencing, and in a misdemeanor DUI case the court may order the defendant to be present. In a felony case, the defendant must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, trial testimony and sentencing unless the defendant waives that right; even then, no trial may be remote, and a felony defendant may not appear remotely at sentencing except in postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law. Confirm with the Criminal Division whether your specific hearing type and case qualify before counting on appearing by video.

What should you bring, and how do you request an interpreter?

Bring identification and whatever paperwork you already have from the arrest, and start the interpreter request the moment you know you will need one, not the day before.

Madera Superior Court's Request an Interpreter page says court interpreters are "provided free of charge," and the court's own guidance is to "ask the court to provide an interpreter as soon as you find out that you need to go to court." For an indigenous language, the court's General Order No. 2025-02, effective January 1, 2026, makes the attorney (or a person without one) responsible for telling the court's interpreter coordinator the exact language variant at least five court days before the hearing, or as early as possible. Madera's own request process is the practical step, but the underlying right does not depend on it: the California Constitution, article I, section 14, gives anyone charged with a crime who cannot understand English the right to an interpreter throughout the proceedings, and in a criminal case the interpreter's pay is a charge against the court, not the defendant (Evidence Code section 752(b)(1)). Madera's self-help center, by contrast, is built around civil matters such as restraining orders and family law, not criminal defense, so a criminal case should go through the Criminal Division and your own attorney rather than self-help.

Who are Madera County's public defender, district attorney, and probation department?

If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge at arraignment to appoint one; the District Attorney and the Probation Department each have offices on South G Street in Madera.

Madera Superior Court's Criminal Division page says that at the arraignment, a defendant who wants a lawyer but cannot afford one may ask for a court-appointed attorney, and the court appoints one if the defendant qualifies. California law requires a court to appoint counsel for a defendant who wants one and cannot afford it (Penal Code section 987(a)).

Does Madera County have a collaborative or treatment court?

Madera Superior Court lists four specialty criminal courts: a Drug Court, a Behavioral Health Court, a Veterans' Treatment Court and a Batterers' Treatment Court.

The court's Criminal Division page says "drug court programs are administered through Criminal Court," and its Judiciary and Court Staff page assigns judges to Behavioral Health Court, Veterans' Treatment Court and Batterers' Treatment Court hearings; it notes that all departments are at the Main Courthouse. Ask your attorney whether a specific charge could be eligible; our criminal defense lawyer overview explains how the firm weighs options like this case by case.

Talk to a lawyer about your Madera County case

Whatever date lands on the posted calendar for your Madera County case, talk to a lawyer before you get there. 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 talk to a Madera County criminal defense lawyer about what happens next.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss a Madera County court date?

The court's Criminal Division page says the court may forfeit a bail bond, issue a warrant, suspend the driver's license, or add a failure-to-appear charge, and that extensions of court appearances will not be granted. A warrant is not automatic: Penal Code section 978.5 says a judge may issue one. Call a lawyer right away if you missed, or will miss, a court date.

How long does a cash bail refund take in Madera County?

The court says refunds on cash bail are processed automatically once the court orders the refund, and that it takes about 6 to 8 weeks from the date of that order to receive the money.

How much is bail in Madera County?

Before the first court appearance, bail is the arrest warrant's amount or, with no warrant, the court's 2026 Felony Bail Schedule (Including Selected Misdemeanors), effective January 2, 2026. A judge can set a different amount at arraignment, and money bail must generally be reasonably attainable for that person.

Can a family member ask for lower bail before the first Madera County court date?

After an arrest without a warrant, Penal Code section 1269c lets the person in custody, or a lawyer, friend or family member, ask a judge for bail below the schedule or for own recognizance release, except for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1(a). If no change is ordered within eight hours after booking, the person can be released by posting the scheduled bail.

How do I get blood alcohol results in a Madera County DUI case?

The court's Criminal Division page says blood alcohol results may be obtained by contacting the District Attorney's Office or the City Attorney's office before the arraignment.

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

You have the right to one at every stage, and the judge will ask whether you want a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, you can ask at arraignment for a court-appointed attorney (Penal Code section 987(a)).

Where do I park at the Madera County courthouse?

The court lists a public parking structure and street parking at the Main Courthouse, 200 South G Street. It says the building is accessible for people with disabilities and asks you to call in advance for special accommodations.

How much does a Madera court record search cost?

The clerk's office charges $15.00 per name, per index, for a record search, $.50 per page for copies, and an additional $25.00 per case for certification.