Santa Clara County Superior Court – South County Courthouse
The Santa Clara County Superior Court system serves the nearly 2 million residents of Santa Clara County, California. With courthouses located throughout the county, it hears a wide range of civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases. One of its courthouses is the South County Courthouse, which serves the southern part of Santa Clara County. This article provides an overview of the South County Courthouse, including its location, services, and cases heard. It also covers the online resources available through the Santa Clara County Superior Court website that are specific to the South County Courthouse, as well as general resources applicable to the entire Santa Clara County court system.
Overview of the Santa Clara County Superior Court – South County Courthouse
The South County Courthouse, located in Morgan Hill, is one of several courthouses that make up the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. It serves the southern part of the county, hearing certain types of cases from the region.
Location and Contact Information
The South County Courthouse is located at:
301 Diana Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Phone: 408-695-5000
Website: https://www.scscourt.org/locations/morgan_hill.shtml
Directions: https://www.scscourt.org/locations/directions/MorganHill.pdf
History and background
The South County Courthouse has its roots in the original courthouse that was built in San Martin in 1904. As the population grew in southern Santa Clara County, a larger and more modern facility was needed. Construction began on the current courthouse building in 2004 on a sprawling 40-acre property. The new courthouse was completed in 2006 at a cost of over $173 million dollars.
Services and Cases Heard
The South County Courthouse handles:
- Criminal cases – Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions
- Traffic cases – Misdemeanors and infractions
Cases originate from the southern part of Santa Clara County, including Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and San Martin.
Felony cases are heard at arraignment and preliminary hearing stages. Misdemeanor and infraction cases proceed through all stages at the South County Courthouse.
This courthouse does not hear civil, family, probate, or juvenile cases. Those are heard at other Santa Clara County Superior Court locations.
Online Court Resources for the South County Courthouse
The Santa Clara County Superior Court website offers several online resources specifically for the South County Courthouse. These allow users to access information about cases, search court records, view court calendars, and more.
Searching Court Records
Users can search South County Courthouse criminal and traffic case records through the online Criminal Case Index and traffic citation search.
The Criminal Case Index allows searching by defendant name, case number, filed date range, and more.
The traffic citation search allows lookups by citation number, driver’s license, or license plate.
Dockets, Calendars, and Case Information
The South County Courthouse criminal, traffic, and local ordinance calendars can be viewed online by date, case number, party name, and other search criteria. Direct links:
Individual case dockets showing upcoming events, documents filed, and case history can also be searched by case number or party name through the portal.
Published Opinions and Orders
South County Courthouse tentative rulings made by the judges on civil motions and demurrers can be viewed online by department number. Find them here:
Court Forms
Printable forms used in South County criminal and traffic cases are available on the Santa Clara Court website. They can be searched by form number or name.
Online Fine Payments
Traffic fines and fees owed to the South County Courthouse can be paid online through the court’s traffic portal. A convenience fee applies.
Defendants can also register for traffic school and pay traffic school fees online.
General Santa Clara County Superior Court Online Resources
In addition to South County Courthouse-specific resources, the Santa Clara Court website offers online services that apply to the entire county and all Superior Court locations. These include resources for legal research, alternative dispute resolution, family law, civil cases, and more.
Self-Help and Legal Research Resources
Self-represented litigants can access a variety of resources through the Santa Clara Court’s Self-Help Center web pages. Information is arranged by case type and links are provided to in-person self-help center services.
The Santa Clara County Law Library, accessible online, also provides extensive legal research materials for the public.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Information
The Court offers mediation and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services to help parties resolve disputes without a trial. Details can be found here:
Legal Aid and Lawyer Referral Services
Low-income individuals can find out if they qualify for free legal aid through links provided on the Self-Help Center site.
The Lawyer Referral Service allows searching the Santa Clara County Bar Association’s attorney directory and provides referrals to lawyers.
Conclusion
The Santa Clara County Superior Court South County Courthouse serves the southern part of Santa Clara County, hearing criminal, traffic, and local ordinance cases. Its online resources through the Santa Clara Court website allow users to access case information, calendars, forms, and fine payment services. The website also provides extensive resources for legal research, alternative dispute resolution, and finding legal assistance that are available for all Santa Clara Superior Court locations and case types. Understanding these online options can help both self-represented and attorney-represented litigants effectively navigate the court system.
FAQs
What types of cases does the South County Courthouse hear?
The South County Courthouse hears criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions), traffic cases (misdemeanors and infractions), and local ordinances.
Can I access South County case records online?
Yes, criminal and traffic case records can be searched online through the court’s portal.
Where can I find South County Courthouse court calendars?
Criminal, traffic, and local ordinance calendars can be searched by date, case number, and party name through the online calendar search.
How can I get court forms for my South County case?
Printable forms for South County criminal and traffic cases can be found on the Santa Clara Court website’s forms page.
Can I pay fines and fees online for South County cases?
Yes, traffic fines and fees can be paid through the court’s online traffic portal. A convenience fee applies.
