San Benito County Courthouse: Finding Your Case and Court Date

San Benito County hears every case, including criminal charges, at one courthouse: San Benito Superior Court, 450 Fourth Street, Hollister, CA 95023, (831) 636-4057. To find a case or court date, check your paperwork, use the court's online Public Portal (an account is required), or call the court.

This guide is part of our statewide California courthouse and jail directory. If you are trying to find out whether someone is currently in custody, see our San Benito County Jail guide instead, or call the San Benito County Correctional Facility at (831) 636-4060, the number the court's own Criminal Division page gives for custody questions.

Which courthouse hears a criminal case in San Benito County?

San Benito Superior Court operates from a single building in Hollister, and its own Criminal Division page confirms that criminal matters, including arraignments, are handled there.

The citation, cash bail receipt, notice of hearing, signed promise to appear, or notice to appear from the arrest names the day and time to appear; confirm with that paperwork or by calling the Criminal Division directly.

How do you look up a San Benito County criminal case?

San Benito Superior Court's online Public Portal handles case and calendar lookups once you create an account; your court paperwork or a call to the court also gives the date.

1. Check the documents you already have: a citation, a cash bail receipt, a notice of hearing, a signed promise to appear, or a notice to appear each show the scheduled date.
2. Search the court's Public Portal, which the court's homepage calls Case/Calendar Lookup: create an account, open the Case Search tab, and enter the case number or the name exactly as it appears on the case. Someone who is not a party or attorney can view the case's register of actions, which lists court hearings and upcoming court dates, but not the documents; the court says to confirm what you find against your paperwork.
3. Call the Criminal Division at (831) 636-4057 if you need to confirm a date or have a question about the case.
4. At the courthouse itself, check the calendar posted on the wall for the name and courtroom. If the name is not listed there, the court's own instructions say to ask at the Traffic customer service window.

What happens at your first court appearance?

A person held in custody must see a judge within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays; the hearing then depends on whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor.

Someone cited and released on a promise to appear is not on that clock. 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." If those 48 hours run out while court is not in session, Penal Code section 825(a)(2) extends the deadline through the end of the next court session on the following court day. A Wednesday arrest follows a different rule: if that day's court session has already ended and the Wednesday itself is not a court holiday, the deadline moves instead to the following Friday, unless that Friday is a court holiday. San Benito Superior Court's own Criminal Division page explains that a felony guilty plea at arraignment generally requires the defendant to be represented by an attorney, with sentencing set for a later date, while a not-guilty felony plea leads to a preliminary hearing. A misdemeanor guilty plea can sometimes be sentenced the same day, unless the judge wants a probation report first, and a not-guilty misdemeanor plea sets a trial date, generally within 30 days if the defendant is in custody or 45 days if not, unless the defendant waives time or the court finds good cause for a delay (Penal Code section 1382).

San Benito Superior Court's own current arrest bail document is the 2025 Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, effective January 16, 2025, adopted under Penal Code section 1269b(d). For misdemeanors, its instructions set $1,000 as the scheduled bail for any offense that neither it nor the statewide Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule lists. A schedule amount is only a starting point: the schedule itself says that after the first court appearance, the judge may set bail higher or lower than its figure. The California Supreme Court held in April 2026, in In re Kowalczyk, that money bail "must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable, in order to effectuate the defendant's constitutional right to pretrial release on bail," and that outside capital cases a judge may deny bail outright only for the offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c). In re Humphrey (2021) already required the judge to weigh a person's ability to pay, and consider whether a nonfinancial alternative such as supervision would reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's appearance in court, before jailing someone over money alone. For more on how this works statewide, see What Happens at an Arraignment in California and how California bail amounts are set.

Can you appear remotely in a San Benito County criminal case?

San Benito Superior Court holds every hearing in person by default, and a criminal defendant's attorney must separately request remote appearance for each hearing where it is available.

The court's own Request for Remote Appearance page says: "All San Benito Superior Court hearings are held in person. Attorneys may request to appear remotely on criminal matters but must submit a Request for Remote Appearance: Criminal local form (Form SB-CR-12) and file it with the court, in accordance with Local Rule 14.3. Approval is granted on a limited basis." A request to appear remotely for an entire case, rather than one hearing, is rejected. Penal Code section 977 allows a misdemeanor defendant to appear by counsel only, and with the defendant's agreement, most misdemeanor proceedings other than a trial may be conducted remotely; but a domestic violence misdemeanor requires the defendant's presence at arraignment and sentencing, and a judge may order presence in a misdemeanor DUI case. A felony defendant must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, the evidence portions of trial, and sentencing unless that presence is waived; even with a waiver, no trial can be remote, and section 977(c)(1)(E) keeps felony sentencing off-limits to remote appearance except for postconviction relief proceedings or as otherwise provided by law. Ask your attorney whether a specific San Benito County hearing is one the court will approve for remote appearance.

What should you bring, and how do you get there?

Bring valid photo identification and your court paperwork to 450 Fourth Street in Hollister, and allow extra time for the security screening at the door.

The court's own Criminal Division FAQ lists what to bring: a driver's license, passport or other picture identification, plus papers such as the notice of hearing, bond or cash bail receipts, and jail release paperwork. The court's Locations & Contact Info page lists the courthouse as open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and links map directions. Everyone entering goes through security screening with metal detection and x-ray equipment; the court's Court Etiquette & Security page bans items such as knives, pepper spray, scissors and tools, and no one may appear in court barefoot, shirtless, in a tank top or wearing sunglasses.

How do you request an interpreter in a San Benito County criminal case?

Ask the court for an interpreter in advance; for a criminal hearing the court provides one free and continues the case if no interpreter is available.

A defendant charged with a crime who does not understand English has a right to an interpreter at every stage of the case under California Constitution article I, section 14. What makes that interpreter free is Evidence Code section 752(b)(1): in a criminal case, the cost is a charge against the court, not the defendant. San Benito Superior Court's own Interpreter & Language Services page confirms this for criminal matters specifically: "Court Interpreters are free. You must ask for an interpreter in advance... For Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile, or Family Court Hearing: we will provide an interpreter. If one isn't available, we'll reschedule (continue) your case until one is." Ask for the interpreter as early as possible, ideally before the hearing date, rather than waiting until you arrive.

Who prosecutes a San Benito County case, and how do you get a court-appointed lawyer?

The District Attorney's Office prosecutes; if you cannot afford a lawyer, the court's instructions say to ask the judge to appoint one at your first appearance.

The court's own Criminal Division page lists the District Attorney's Office at (831) 636-4120, a number it gives for crime victims seeking resources.

Does San Benito County have a collaborative or treatment court?

Yes. The court's current calendar schedule lists a Collaborative Courts calendar for Drug Court, Behavioral Health Court and Military Diversion, separate from its civil CARE Court.

The court's Court Calendars and Judicial Assignments page lists that calendar in the schedule effective July 1, 2026; ask your attorney whether a specific charge could fit one of these programs. CARE Court is a civil petition, not a criminal calendar: the court's CARE Court page says it is accepting petitions that can connect an eligible person to mental health and housing services through a voluntary CARE agreement or a CARE plan overseen by a judicial officer. The statute's eligible diagnoses, under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5972(b), are schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, or bipolar I disorder with psychotic features; psychosis related to current intoxication does not qualify.

San Benito County's criminal cases raise many different concerns depending on the charge. See our criminal defense lawyer page for how the firm approaches each one, or our Hollister theft defense page if property or theft charges are involved.

Talk to a lawyer about your San Benito County case

Whatever brought you to San Benito County court, talk to a lawyer before your assigned arraignment date. 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.

Frequently asked questions

Does San Benito County have more than one courthouse?

No. San Benito Superior Court holds every case type, including criminal matters, at its one building in Hollister, 450 Fourth Street.

Can a family member see a San Benito County court date online?

Yes, with a Public Portal account. Someone who is not a party or attorney cannot open the documents but can view the case's register of actions, which the court says lists court hearings and upcoming court dates. Sealed, confidential and certain other cases are not on the portal, so confirm the date against the paperwork.

Is there a fee for a court interpreter in a San Benito County criminal case?

No. San Benito Superior Court's own page says court interpreters are free for criminal, traffic, juvenile, or family court hearings, and the case is continued if one is not available. Ask for one as early as possible.

Can bail be lowered before the first San Benito County court date?

Sometimes. Under Penal Code section 1269c, the defendant, a lawyer, a friend or a family member can ask a judge for lower bail or own recognizance release before arraignment, except for offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1(a), such as serious or violent felonies other than residential burglary and some domestic violence charges. Once the defendant appears in court, the amount the judge sets takes over from the schedule.

Is there a victim resources number for San Benito County criminal cases?

Yes. The District Attorney's Office can be reached at (831) 636-4120 for crime victims seeking resources, according to the court's own Criminal Division page.

What happens if I miss my San Benito County court date?

Failing to appear as required lets the court issue a bench warrant under Penal Code section 978.5(a). Willfully missing a required court date can also be charged as a separate crime. Call your attorney right away, whether the missed date already happened or is about to.

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

You have the right to one. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge to appoint one for you at that first appearance.