San Bernardino County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

The Taaqtam (Serrano) and Cahuilla people were the indigenous people who lived in San Bernardino county originally. Formed on April 26, 1853 and named for Saint Bernardino of Siena. The county has a total land area of 20,105 square miles making it the largest county in the U.S. A vast population of over 2,181,654 call the county home and it prides itself as the fifth most populated county in California. The Superior Court, which is its only court of jurisprudence, is located in several Districts and Locations. It presides over a long list of cases and is thorough in its arbitration of cases. The Superior Court works independently and has a long-standing tradition of accountability and serving the interest of the citizens of San Bernardino.

The San Bernardino County Superior Court in Barstow, Needles, and Big Beer districts located in Barstow, Needles, and Big Bear Lake respectively, hears civil, eviction cases, small claims, traffic cases, and issue restraining orders on matters of violence. The Superior Court in Fontana District decides small claims, traffic appeals, probates, and landlord-tenant cases. The Joshua Tree District hears civil, criminal, family law, traffic, and small claims cases. Criminal adjudications are held in the Rancho Cucamonga District. The Child Support Division hears child custody, child support, and paternity establishment cases. The San Bernardino Civil Division can be located in San Bernardino. It applies code enforcement, non-traffic infractions, workplace violences, and limited landlord-tenant cases, the Criminal Division in San Bernardino hears felony, misdemeanor, and handles writs of habeas corpus. The Family Law Division resolves disagreements surrounding divorce cases including legal separation and manages legal proceedings arising from domestic affairs. San Bernardino Probate Court legally binds wills, handles real estate property cases, estate administration cases, hears elder abuse petitions, and handles change of names applications. The Victorville District in Victorville is an expert in adjudging criminal cases, juvenile delinquency, and family law disputes. San Bernardino Juvenile Delinquency Court has exclusive jurisdiction over crimes committed by minors and the San Bernardino Juvenile Dependency Court withdraws children who are suffering from abuse and neglect from their parents/homes. It also arranges and places children in foster care homes and appoints guardians for proper care of these children.

In the statewide caseload trend report for 2023, San Bernardino county recorded total filings of 259,784 cases and terminated 74,942 number of cases in the fiscal year 2022-23. The number of cases filed in the previous year was slightly lesser suggesting that San Bernardino receives approximately 250,000 cases yearly. Some records are not authorized by statute to be viewed by the public. They are juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency records. The Clerk of the Superior Court in San Bernardino county ensures that court transcripts, files, summonses, subpoenas, and case exhibits are filed appropriately. San Bernardino court records are recorded in electronic and paper formats and currently, all records are permanently switching to electronic records.

San Bernardino county strives towards an all-inclusive, equitable, and transparent court system. The Superior Court creates a functioning, accessible case/data management system while well-trained staff (judges, court commissioners, and interpreters) provide stable and consistent access to justice. In order to achieve this, it takes responsibility and accountability for the judgments and decisions it passes.