Your Guide to the State of California’s Kern County Superior Court

What is the Kern County Superior Court?

The Kern County Superior Court is a Superior County Court in the State of California, which exists within the realm of Common Law. A Superior Court is permitted to hear cases both criminal and civil in nature. This is in contrast to a court classified as ‘lower’, which is restricted to the judicial review of cases considered to be less severe in nature. Although this qualification differs with regard to the nature of the crime, matters considered to be of the utmost seriousness within Kern County, California will typically be heard before the Kern County Superior Court.

The Kern County Superior Court currently is comprised of 7 locations, which are determined in accordance with the specific hearing. The main courthouse is located in Kern County, California:

1415 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, California 93301
(661) 868-5393

Kern County Superior Court Jurisdiction

The following cities, municipalities, and towns in the State of California are under the jurisdiction of the Kern County Superior Court. However, the associated townships and surrounding areas are apportioned between the 6 supplementary courthouses in addition to the main courthouse:

Arvin

Bakersfield

California City

Delano

Maricopa

McFarland

Ridgecrest

Shafter

Taft

Tehachapi

Wasco

Kern County Superior Court Judges and Personnel

In the Kern County Superior Court, the following Judges and personnel are responsible for legal review of legal matters:

Michael G. Bush: Presiding Judge

Terry McNally: Court Executive Officer.

Legal Issues Managed at the Kern County Superior Court

The following legal issues, statutory legislation, and proceedings are heard in the Kern County Superior Court:

Family Law: Judicial review within this legal field in the Kern County Superior Court undertakes legal matters addressing matters of the family and familial, structural procedures including:

Adoption

The Establishment of Paternity and Guardianship

Domestic Violence

Divorce, Legal Separation, and Annulment

The Establishment of Visitation

Domestic Partnerships

Small Claims Court: The Kern County Superior Court provides a legal venue existing under the jurisdiction of Civil Law with which legal matters involving smaller sums of money, damages, and torts occurring within Kern County may be heard. Small Claims Courts in Kern Country will only undertake matters not exceeding $7,500 in valuation. Businesses and commercial institutions will only be permitted to be heard within small claims courts with regard to cases not exceeding $5,000 in value.

Appellate Court: The Kern County Superior Courts maintain the jurisdictional authority to retry, review, or reexamine specific cases that have received rulings from lower courts.

Probate Court: A legal venue in which the appropriation of the estate belonging to a deceased individual takes place. This includes the judicial review of the following:

Wills and Testaments

Conservatorships

Single Party Inheritance

Guardianship

Grand Jury: A legal procedure in which a jury will be undertaken in order to facilitate the determination with regard to the existence of a sufficient amount of evidence required for a fair hearing. Jury duty is also required of any and all residents of Kern County.

Juvenile and Minor Law: This legal field undertakes hearings involving children and individuals not considered to be legal adults, which may include the following:

Child Support

Violations Committed by Individuals Considered to be ‘Underage’

Juvenile Crime

Procurement: The Kern County Superior Court undertakes hearings in which debt, collection, and acquisitions are subject to take place.

Traffic and Accident Law: Vehicular and transportation matters requiring legal administration and regulation may be heard at the Kern County Superior Court. These matters will range in the requirement for a court appearance in lieu of the submission of required fees. This may include:

Required Fines and Fees

Ticketing

The Mandating of Citations

Punitive Recourse with regard to the Associated Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Criminal Law: The Kern County Superior Court will address matters in both civil jurisdictions, as well as those occurring within criminal jurisdictions. Criminal cases are considered to be affronts in the form of crime with regard to the general public within the public sector.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Driving with a Suspended License

Hit and Run

Reckless Driving

Unlicensed Animals and Pets

Gaming Offenses

Civil Law in the Kern County Superior Court

With regard to legal matters involving a resident of Kern County, the following classifications of respective circumstances are applicable to Civil Law Cases:

Unlimited Civil Jurisdictions entail hearings in which the valuation of monies, assets, or properties is equal to or exceeds $25,000.

Limited Civil Jurisdictions entail hearings in which the valuation of monies, assets, or properties is less than $25,000.

Kern County Superior Court Administration and Fees

The Kern County Superior Court provides individuals the opportunity to not only access court documentation, but also satisfy the payment of fees online. The following details are pertinent with regard to both scheduling of fee payment, as well the procedural structuring of legal fees:

Fee structures, schedules, and payments are available both in virtual and physical formats.

Court forms and applicable documentation are provided in both online, as well as in hard copy form.

Jury Duty.