Santa Clara County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With a population of almost two million people, the County of Santa Clara is the sixth-most populated county in California. It was incorporated in 1850 and has a land area of 1,290 square miles. San Jose is its largest city and county seat. Like all California counties, Santa Clara County has a single trial court operating within a unified judicial system.

The Santa Clara County Superior Court has jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. It hears traffic, misdemeanors, felonies, family law, juvenile, probate, mental health, small claims, and limited and unlimited civil cases. The court is divided into Divisions based on case types and location. Traffic offenses, felonies, misdemeanors, limited and unlimited civil cases, family law, juvenile matters, probate matters, mental health issues, and small claims are all heard by it. The divisions of the court are determined by the types of cases they hear and their location. The Santa Clara County Superior Court Divisions and cases they handle are:

• Family Justice Center - family law, drug cases, traffic offenses, and juvenile dependency
• Downtown Superior Court - civil, probate, and small claims
• Hall of Justice - criminal
• South County Morgan Hill - criminal and traffic
• Palo Alto - criminal
• Old Courthouse - civil
• Juvenile Justice - juvenile crimes
• Santa Clara Courthouse - all cases

The Santa Clara County Superior Court handles about 100,000 cases annually. It hears about 5,000 limited civil cases, 8,000 unlimited civil cases, and over 80,000 criminal cases. The county's crime rate is about 1,600 crimes per 100,000 residents based on the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office 2022 Annual Statistics. The court meticulously maintains the court records and makes nonconfidential records available to the public. Santa Clara County provides a portal to search for case information online and also provides public access terminals at the court premises. Individuals can also visit the courthouses to inspect and request copies of public court records. However, certain court records in Santa Clara County are sealed under California law or by court orders to preserve privacy and protect sensitive information. These records are not accessible to the public but can only be accessed by authorized persons or by court orders. These records include adoption records, juvenile records, identifying information about jurors, grand jury proceedings and records, medical and mental health records, records of victims of domestic abuse, and financial information.

In summary, the unified court system in Santa Clara County runs smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that the county's residents have access to timely justice. The Santa Clara County Superior Court Divisions administer justice impartially and promptly. The county's management of court records helps build public trust and confidence in the legal system. Santa Clara County is committed to fulfilling its legal obligations with distinction and is an example of effective judicial management in California.