Every criminal case filed in Mariposa County, from the town of Mariposa to the gateway communities near Yosemite, is heard at a single address, the county's only courthouse: the Mariposa County Superior Court Main Courthouse, 5088 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338, phone (209) 966-2005.
Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Mariposa County?
Mariposa County Superior Court holds all court matters in one building, the courthouse at 5088 Bullion Street in Mariposa, so there is no other criminal courthouse to find.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariposa County Superior Court, Main Courthouse | 5088 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338 | (209) 966-2005 | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
The court's own criminal-division page gives this same address as the one place all court matters are held.
How do you look up a Mariposa County criminal case online?
Mariposa's court runs an online case portal with no account needed, and its own page lists the papers that already show your court day and time.
The court's own page says the day and time of a hearing can be found on whichever of these documents you were given: a citation, a cash bail receipt, a notice of hearing, a signed promise to appear, or a notice to appear. To look a case up online:
- Open the court's Case Information page and agree to its terms of use, which opens the court's case portal; the court says the system shows only information the public can view, and the newest filings may not be in it yet.
- Do not use the portal's Login or Register links; the portal says they are not required to access case data.
- Use Smart Search to find a case, or Search Hearings to look for hearings within a date range.
- Check the court's Weekly Calendar for the week's hearings.
- If you still cannot find the case or the date, call the Criminal Division at (209) 966-2005 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., or ask in person at the courthouse.
For custody information instead of a case number, the Sheriff's Office posts a Daily Booking Report covering the last 24 hours of bookings, and our Mariposa County Jail guide explains more; for other counties, see our courthouse and jail guides by county.
What happens at your first court date in Mariposa County?
At the arraignment the judge states the charge and the right to a lawyer; a person held in custody must get there within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays.
Mariposa Superior Court's own criminal page explains the two kinds of cases: a felony can mean state prison, and a misdemeanor generally means a fine or county jail time. The arraignment is where that distinction starts to matter, and the judge can address bail there too.
"Except as provided in paragraph (2), 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."
That limit, Penal Code section 825(a)(1), applies to a person held in custody and runs from the arrest; it is a deadline for standing before a judge, not for filing a charge, and it does not promise anyone's release. Court closures push the clock forward under section 825(a)(2): when the 48 hours run out while the court is not in session, the deadline is extended through the end of the next court session on the following court day. An arrest on a Wednesday, once that day's session has already closed, runs on its own timetable: as long as the Wednesday is not a court holiday, the person must reach a judge by Friday, unless Friday is a court holiday too. At that same appearance, the judge tells the defendant the charge and the right to counsel (Penal Code section 858(a)), and in a felony case gives the defendant a copy of the complaint and reasonable time to find a lawyer (Penal Code section 859). See our arraignment answer for what happens generally at that first appearance statewide.
Bail can come up that day too. Mariposa Superior Court adopts its own uniform schedule every year under Penal Code section 1269b; the current 2026 Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedules took effect January 1, 2026, under the presiding judge's order dated January 5, 2026, and our Mariposa County Jail guide covers the county's current figures directly. Two California Supreme Court rulings sit above whatever number the schedule prints. In re Kowalczyk (2026) limits outright bail denial, outside capital cases, to the offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12(b) and (c), and holds that any dollar amount a judge does set must generally be, in the court's own words, "reasonably attainable" for that person. In re Humphrey (2021) came first: before relying on money bail, the judge has to weigh what the person can actually pay and consider whether conditions short of cash, such as supervision or monitoring, could reasonably protect public and victim safety and reasonably assure the person's return to court. See how California bail amounts are set for the statewide rule in full.
Can you appear remotely in a Mariposa County criminal case?
Sometimes: the court's Zoom links are for people on its calendar and their attorneys, and Penal Code 977 limits which criminal hearings can be remote.
Mariposa Superior Court's remote appearance page is organized by division, with its own track for the Criminal Division, and access through Zoom is limited to people already on the calendar for a hearing and their lawyers; it is not a general public viewing option. State law adds a floor under whatever that local process allows. A misdemeanor defendant may appear through a lawyer alone and, once the defendant agrees, handle the case remotely except for a jury or court trial; in a misdemeanor domestic violence case the defendant must be present for arraignment and sentencing, and in a misdemeanor DUI case the judge may order the defendant to be present. A felony defendant starts from the opposite default: physical presence is required at arraignment, the plea, the preliminary hearing, the portions of trial when evidence is taken, and sentencing, unless the defendant waives physical presence for a hearing that may be held remotely. Even a waiver does not open every door, since Penal Code section 977 bars every defendant from appearing remotely at a jury or court trial and keeps felony sentencing in person apart from postconviction relief proceedings or another path the law separately allows.
What should you bring, and how do you get to the Mariposa County courthouse?
Bring photo identification and your court papers, allow time for security screening, and park free on any side of the courthouse at 5088 Bullion Street.
The court's criminal page says to bring a valid photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport, plus papers such as the notice of hearing, bond or cash bail receipts, and jail release paperwork. Its Location and Contact page says parking is free on all sides of the courthouse, the main entrance faces Bullion Street, and ADA access is at the rear entrance on Jones Street; hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The building is a full security facility: everyone passes through a weapons screening device and has hand-carried items x-rayed, so plan extra time. Shorts, tank tops, crop tops and bare feet are not permitted, and the court's etiquette and security page asks that phones be turned off before entering the courtroom. Once inside, check the calendar on the wall for your name and courtroom department; if your name is not on a criminal calendar list, ask at the clerk's office.
How do you request an interpreter in a Mariposa County criminal case?
Mariposa's court provides interpreters at no cost in criminal cases; ask the courtroom staff at the hearing or the clerk's office before it, or have your attorney ask.
The underlying right does not depend on the county at all. Evidence Code section 752(b)(1) puts the interpreter's cost on the court, not on the person who needs one, and the California Constitution guarantees an interpreter "throughout the proceedings" to anyone charged with a crime who cannot understand English (article I, section 14). Mariposa Superior Court's Language Access Plan page gives that request rule, and its Court Interpreter's Role page explains what that interpreter will and will not do once one is appointed, including that the interpreter cannot give legal advice or discuss the case. For the general steps that apply across California courts, see the Judicial Council's own guide at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ask-interpreter.
Who handles a Mariposa County criminal case besides the judge?
Two offices matter before trial: the District Attorney, who decides what to charge, and, for anyone who cannot pay for a lawyer, the court, which appoints one.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Mariposa County District Attorney | 5085 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA (mail: P.O. Box 730) | (209) 966-3626 |
| Mariposa County Probation Department | 5091 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338 (mail: P.O. Box 76) | (209) 966-3612 |
For a lawyer, the court's own FAQ says to go to the first court appearance and ask the judge, who then appoints a court-appointed attorney (Penal Code section 987). Crime victims can also reach the District Attorney's victim resources at (209) 966-3626 or Victim Witness Assistance at (209) 742-7441.
Does Mariposa County have a collaborative or treatment court?
Mariposa's court lists a Drug and Behavioral Health court track, which it describes as a problem-solving alternative that connects defendants with rehabilitative services.
The same page that organizes remote appearance by division lists Drug and Behavioral Health alongside Civil and Probate, Criminal, and Family Law, describing it as an alternative to the traditional court process that connects defendants with rehabilitative services and support networks instead. Ask a criminal defense lawyer whether a specific charge could qualify.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my Mariposa County court date?
Not by yourself. The court's own page says that if you posted a bail bond for a specific date or a judge ordered you to return, you cannot change the date; your attorney handles that. For an arraignment on a filed complaint, the clerk may be able to move the date earlier but cannot postpone it. Without an attorney, appear on the scheduled date, or a warrant may be issued.
How much is bail in Mariposa County?
Mariposa Superior Court adopts a new combined felony and misdemeanor schedule every year; the current version took effect January 1, 2026 and sets a starting number by offense. That number is only a starting point: a judge can move off it at arraignment, and under In re Kowalczyk (2026), any money bail that is actually set must generally be reasonably attainable for the person in front of the court.
Does Mariposa County Superior Court have its own self-help center?
It has one, at 5092 Jones Street, but the court says the Self-Help Center is closed until further notice, and the services it lists are family law, civil and small claims matters rather than criminal cases. The court points people to SHARPCOURTS.ORG or the statewide California Online Self-Help Center instead.
Can a friend or relative interpret for me in court instead of requesting one?
Usually not inside the courtroom. California's statewide guidance says a friend or relative who speaks English is not normally allowed to serve as your interpreter at the hearing itself, though they can still help you with paperwork beforehand.
Do I need a lawyer at my first Mariposa County court appearance?
It is a right you can use, not an obligation. The judge raises it at arraignment (Penal Code section 858(a)), and the court appoints a lawyer at that point if you want one and cannot pay for it (Penal Code section 987).
Can family members watch a Mariposa County hearing online?
No. The court's home page says it suspended live-streaming in all cases as of January 22, 2024, and its remote appearance page says its Zoom courtrooms are for individuals on the court's calendar and attorneys only.
What if I miss my Mariposa County court date?
Contact your attorney immediately, whether the missed date already happened or is coming up. A judge can issue a bench warrant for a missed appearance (Penal Code section 978.5), and willfully failing to appear to evade the court after release on bail or your own recognizance can be its own separate crime (Penal Code sections 1320, 1320.5).
Where can crime victims get help in a Mariposa County case?
The District Attorney's office has its own victim resources line at (209) 966-3626, and Victim Witness Assistance can be reached separately at (209) 742-7441.
Talk to a lawyer about your Mariposa County case
Get a lawyer's help before your Mariposa County court date, whatever the charge, at the county's one courthouse. 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 or request a free consultation online.