Tuolumne County hears every case, including criminal charges, at one courthouse: Tuolumne County Superior Court, 12855 Justice Center Dr., Sonora, CA, reached through the Criminal Division at (209) 533-5563. The court's searchable online calendar lists the cases set for today through the next seven days.
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 Tuolumne County Jail guide instead.
Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Tuolumne County?
Tuolumne County Superior Court operates from a single building in Sonora, and its Criminal Division page confirms that criminal matters, including arraignments, are handled there.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Tuolumne County Superior Court | 12855 Justice Center Dr., Sonora, CA | (209) 533-5563 (Criminal Division) |
The courthouse is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Criminal Division's phone line is staffed between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The court says your papers (a bail bond or cash bail receipt, a notice of hearing, a signed promise to appear, or a notice to appear) show the day and time to appear; for questions about the date, call the Criminal Division.
How do you look up a Tuolumne County criminal case?
The court posts a searchable calendar of cases set for today through the next seven days; for anything else, call the Criminal Division, write, or visit its window.
- Call the Criminal Division at (209) 533-5563, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., with the defendant's name or case number if you have it.
- To request copies of court records, you can ask in person at the Criminal Division window, or send a written request by mail with a check made out to "Tuolumne Superior Court," a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the defendant's name, date of birth, and case number if known.
- Search the court's online calendar. The court's Court Calendars page says this searchable calendar "is updated throughout the day, and provides a list of cases currently scheduled for today through the next 7 days." A later date will not show there yet, and hearing dates are not set over the phone or by email.
What happens at your first court appearance?
Someone held in custody must see a judge within 48 hours, not counting Sundays or holidays; the judge then explains the charge and the right to a lawyer.
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 the 48 hours run out while court is not in session, section 825(a)(2) extends the deadline through the end of the next court session on the following court day. An arrest on a Wednesday after that day's court session has ended follows its own rule: if that Wednesday is not a court holiday, the person must be brought before a judge by the following Friday, unless that Friday is a court holiday. Nothing in that statute sets a filing deadline for the prosecution; it only forces the case in front of a judge quickly.
Tuolumne Superior Court does not post a bail schedule online. Penal Code section 1269b still requires each county's judges to adopt a countywide bail schedule and revise it every year. Before the first court appearance, bail is the amount on the arrest warrant or, if there is no warrant, the amount in that schedule. At arraignment, the judge decides bail or release and can set a different amount. Under In re Kowalczyk (California Supreme Court, April 30, 2026), a judge in a noncapital case may deny bail only for the offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12(b) and (c), and money bail "must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable." In re Humphrey (2021) requires the judge to 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. For the statewide version of this rule, see What Happens at an Arraignment in California and how California bail amounts are set.
Can you appear remotely in a Tuolumne County criminal case?
The court takes Zoom requests by email for Departments 1 through 4; its page does not say which criminal hearings qualify, and Penal Code 977 sets the limits.
For Departments 1 through 4, a request to appear by Zoom goes by email to legalprocessing@tuolumne.courts.ca.gov, with your name, case number, department, and court date. When you join, the court says you must type your name and case number in the chat; if you are not admitted because you did not, "it will count as an absence or a failure to appear." Technical problems do not excuse you from your court date. Penal Code section 977 lets a defendant charged only with a misdemeanor appear through a lawyer and, if the defendant agrees, have the arraignment, plea and other hearings held remotely, except trials. Two exceptions apply: 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 must be physically present at arraignment, plea and the preliminary hearing unless the defendant waives that right. No defendant may appear remotely for a jury or court trial, and section 977(c)(1)(E) bars remote felony sentencing "except for postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law." Ask the Criminal Division, or your attorney, whether your hearing can be held by Zoom before counting on it.
What should you bring, and how do you get to the courthouse?
Bring a photo ID and your court papers, park in the public upper lot near the main entrance, and expect security screening at the door.
The court's Criminal Division 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, jail release paperwork, and the citation. The court's Visiting the Courthouse page says public parking is "on the upper lot near the main entrance"; the gated lot is for employees only. Every entrance has a metal detector and an x-ray machine. Weapons, including pocketknives of any size and scissors, are not allowed, and neither is food or drink, including water. Phones must be silent or turned off. Once inside, the court says to "check the calendar on the lobby wall for your name and the department where your case will be heard," and to go to a clerk's window if your name is not there.
How do you request an interpreter?
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. Ask early: the court's interpreter page says that if you wait until your court date, "it is likely that your matter will have to be continued to a future date." The page gives separate request numbers by case type: call (209) 533-5563 to request an interpreter for a criminal or traffic matter, or (209) 533-5555 for civil, family law, probate, or small claims. If the District Attorney, Public Defender, or your own defense lawyer needs an interpreter outside the courthouse itself, that office arranges and pays for it separately.
Who are Tuolumne County's public defender and district attorney?
Tuolumne County's own court pages describe how to ask for a court-appointed lawyer, and give the District Attorney's address for one specific purpose: blood-alcohol test results before a court date.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| District Attorney | 423 North Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370 | (209) 588-5450 |
If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court to appoint one at your arraignment; the judge must appoint counsel once you ask and show you cannot afford one. The court's Criminal Division page says the court then appoints the Public Defender, Conflict Counsel, Alternate Conflict Counsel, or a private attorney to represent you. If you would rather hire your own lawyer, the firm's criminal defense lawyer overview explains how that works.
Does Tuolumne County have collaborative or treatment courts?
Yes. Recovery Court, the court's adult drug court, serves criminal defendants; CARE Court is a civil process, and Family Treatment Court serves parents in child welfare cases.
The court describes Recovery Court as an alternative to incarceration for defendants who meet its eligibility criteria, working with "non-violent participants who have significant substance abuse history." It says that upon successful completion, "generally after 12 to 24 months, probation is terminated, or charges are dismissed." The court's Judicial Assignments page also lists Drug Court and Prop 36 calendars. Ask your attorney whether your case could qualify.
Tuolumne County's criminal cases raise many different concerns depending on the charge. See our California criminal defense practice overview for how the firm approaches each one.
Talk to a lawyer about your Tuolumne County case
If you or someone in your family has a criminal case in Tuolumne County, talk with a lawyer before the first court 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
Is there more than one Tuolumne County courthouse building?
No, just the one. Every division, including criminal, sits inside the same Sonora building at 12855 Justice Center Dr.
How do I find out if someone is in custody in Tuolumne County?
The court's Criminal Division page says to call the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office at (209) 533-5844. For the court date and time of someone in custody, it says to call the Criminal Division at (209) 533-5563 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Is there a fee for a court interpreter in a Tuolumne County criminal case?
No. Evidence Code section 752(b)(1) makes the interpreter's cost a charge against the court for anyone charged with a crime who does not understand English.
Can I change my Tuolumne County court date?
Not by asking the clerk to postpone it. The court says that if you posted a bail bond for a specific date, or appeared and were ordered to return, you cannot change the date, and it tells you to contact your attorney. For an arraignment on a filed complaint, the clerk may be able to move the date earlier, but cannot postpone it.
What if I cannot afford my own lawyer in Tuolumne County?
You can ask the judge to appoint one. The court must tell a defendant who appears without counsel about that right, and must appoint a lawyer once the defendant asks and cannot afford to hire one.
What if I cannot make it to my Tuolumne County hearing?
A missed required appearance gives the court grounds to issue a bench warrant (Penal Code section 978.5(a)), and skipping court on purpose can turn into a separate charge on its own. Reach your attorney as soon as you know you will miss it, or the moment you realize you already have.
How do I get a copy of a Tuolumne County criminal record?
Ask in person at the Criminal Division window, or send a written request by mail with a check made out to "Tuolumne Superior Court." A certified copy costs an additional $40.00 plus $0.50 per page; the clerk can confirm the exact amount once they know how many copies you want.