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    California DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard

    Which California court hears a first-offense DUI case, what happens at each stage, and the ZIP codes and counties each courthouse covers.

    How California DUI courts are organised

    A DUI charge in California is prosecuted in the Superior Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.

    California's superior courts, one per county, are the only trial courts hearing DUI cases under Vehicle Code § 23152, whether misdemeanor or felony, since municipal courts were unified into the superior courts in 1998. Misdemeanor DUI appeals go to the appellate division of the superior court; felony appeals go to the California Courts of Appeal.

    The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at courts.ca.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.

    California judiciary — court directory

    Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.

    CA driver-licensing agency

    The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.

    What happens at each stage in California

    A DUI case in California is heard in the Superior Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.

    1. 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Cal. Veh. Code § 23152 and request a breath, blood or urine test under California's implied-consent section, Cal. Veh. Code § 23612. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
    2. 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — A DUI arrest starts the Administrative Per Se process, under which the DMV suspends or revokes the driving privilege independently of the court case. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with California Department of Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
    3. 3Arraignment in the Superior Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Superior Court. California's superior courts, one per county, are the only trial courts hearing DUI cases under Vehicle Code § 23152, whether misdemeanor or felony, since municipal courts were unified into the superior courts in 1998.
    4. 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. TrueFiling is the electronic filing system for the California Courts of Appeal, used for felony DUI appeals.
    5. 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $390–$1,000, jail exposure up to 6 months, a licence suspension of 6 months. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense is a misdemeanor; the base fine is small next to court assessments and program costs.
    6. 6Appeal — TrueFiling is the electronic filing system for the California Courts of Appeal, used for felony DUI appeals.
    7. 7Reinstatement — The DMV administers a statewide Ignition Interlock Device programme for DUI offenders. California requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.

    Filing and case handling in California

    • TrueFiling is the electronic filing system for the California Courts of Appeal, used for felony DUI appeals.
    • Misdemeanor DUI appeals proceed to the appellate division of the superior court under California Rules of Court 8.800-8.889.
    • The DMV's Administrative Per Se suspension runs independently of, and at the same time as, the criminal case.
    • The notice of appeal in a misdemeanor DUI case is generally due 30 days after judgment, per Judicial Council form CR-131-INFO.

    Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.

    California ZIP codes covered

    These California ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

    Counties and cities using these California resources

    Other California official resources

    California Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22California DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

    Frequently asked questions

    Which court handles a first DUI charge in California?
    First-offense DUI cases in California are heard in the Superior Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
    Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in California?
    No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the CA driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.