Lake County is located in northern California, about two and one-half hours driving time from both the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento metropolitan area; approximately 110 road miles north of San Francisco, 100 road miles west of Sacramento, and 80 road miles east of the Pacific Coast. It is 1,261 square miles in size and has a population of 60,000 people.
The Municipal and Superior Courts of Lake County agreed to consolidate administratively, effective July 1, 1995. With unanimous consent of the Municipal and Superior Court Judges, Judicial Council certified the Courts as being unified on June 30, 1998. The official title of the court is the Superior Court of California, County of Lake. Unification will facilitate the Court's efforts to achieve the maximum utilization of judicial and other court resources, to accomplish increased efficiency in court operations, and to increase public access to court services.
Unified Courts
Judge Arthur H. Mann is the Presiding Judge of the Court. In that capacity, he has the responsibility for administrative matters, which affect the court. Judge Richard C. Martin is the Assistant Presiding Judge. Mary E. Smith is the Court Executive Officer.
Clerk's Office Address, Hours, and Contact Information
- Lakeport Division (Departments One, Two, Three, Commissioner, & Court Executive Officer)
Superior Court of California
County of Lake
255 N. Forbes Street, 4th Floor
Lakeport, CA 95453
707-263-2374
Fax: 707-262-1327
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. (A drop box is available for filings until 5:00 p.m.) - Clearlake Division (Department Four)
Superior Court of California
County of Lake
7000 A South Center Drive
Clearlake, CA 95422
707-994-6598
Fax: 707-994-1625
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (A drop box is available for filings until 5:00 p.m.)
Departments and Calendars
- Department One
Hon. David W. Herrick
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 95453
707-263-2231
Fax: 707-262-1327
Monday calendar:
8:15 AM Domestic Violence 9:00 AM Harrasment & Civil Law & Motion 11:00 AM Probate 1:30 PM Status Conferences, Case Management, and Arbitration Conferences
Tuesday - Thursday calendar:
8:15 AM Jury/Court Trials
Friday calendar:
8:30 AM Adoptions 9:00 AM Short Cause Matters assigned by Dept. 3
- Department Two
Hon. Richard C. Martin
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 95453
707-263-2232
Fax: 707-262-1327
Monday calendar:
9:00 AM Misdemeanor Law & Motion 4:00 PM In-custody Arraignments
Tuesday - Thursday calendar:
8:15 AM Jury/Court Trials 4:00 PM In-custody Arraignments
Friday calendar:
9:00 AM Felony Prelim Calendar 4:00 PM In-custody Arraignments
- Department Three
Hon. Arthur H. Mann
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 95453
707-263-2282
Fax: 707-262-1327
Monday calendar:
8:15 AM Felony Law & Motion
Tuesday - Thursday calendar:
8:15 AM Jury/Court Trials
Friday calendar:
8:15 AM Trial Assignment 9:00 AM Short Cause Calendar Call
- Department Four
Hon. Stephen O. Hedstrom
Assistant Presiding Judge
7000 A, South Center Drive
Clearlake, CA 95422
707-994-4859
Fax: 707-994-1625
Monday calendar:
8:15 AM Misdemeanor Law & Motion
Tuesday and Wednesday calendar:
9:00 AM Jury/Court Trials
Thursday calendar:
9:00 AM Jury/Court Trials 1:30 PM Criminal Motions
Friday calendar:
8:15 AM Felony Law & Motion (in-custody) 1:30 PM Felony Law & Motion (out-of-custody)
Courtroom A
Hon. Vincent T. Lechowick
Commissioner
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 95453
Fax: 707-262-1327
Monday calendar:
8:15 AM Juvenile Dependency 11:00 AM Juvenile Delinquency
Tuesday calendar:
1:30 PM Settlement Conferences
Wednesday calendar:
9:00 AM Child Support Calendar (DCSS) 1:30 PM Orders of Examination (DCSS)
Job-Search Calendar (DCSS)
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month calendar:
9:00 AM Small Claims 1:30 PM Traffic Infraction
Animal Control
Boating
Fish and Game
2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month calendar: (heard at Clearlake City Hall)
9:00 AM Small Claims 1:30 PM Traffic Infraction
Animal Control
Boating
Fish and Game
Friday calendar:
9:00 AM Short-Cause Assigned by Dept 3.
You may go directly to specific information for any of these locations by clicking on the name below or in the right column.
Deputy Jury Commissioner 707-263-2233
The Jury Commissioner's Office compiles a master list by sending out questionnaires. Each prospective juror is summoned, via random selection.
A new one-day/one trial jury system was implemented on January 1, 2000. Under this common-sense program, you need only appear (prepared to serve) for one day unless you are selected to serve on a jury. If you are selected, you serve for the duration of the trial.
When a juror receives a summons card and feels that he/she should be excused, the following are excuses allowable by the Jury Commissioner's Office:
- Medical/dental appointment;
- Out of County on date summoned;
- Death of juror or family member;
- Illness (medical verification needed from physician);
- Family emergency.
All requests to be excused from jury service, because of undue hardship, shall be made in writing addressed to:
Mary E. Smith
Jury Commissioner
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 94543
Fax number 707-262-1327Each request for exemption is determined on a case-by-case basis, but generally, if the excuse does not fit into one of the above categories, then the prospective juror is required to appear as summoned and request that the court excuse him/her from service as a juror.
Each prospective juror, who appears as summoned, will receive compensation of $15 per day and 15 cents per mile, one way to the court, for each day of service, commencing on the second day of service.
Upon stipulation of the parties, small claims hearings are conducted by pro tem judges, at the following locations:
- In Clearlake the hearings are held at Clearlake City Hall, which is located at 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422. Hearings are heard on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, at 9:00 a.m.
- In Lakeport the hearings are held in Courtroom A, located on the fourth floor of the Courthouse, 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453. Hearings are heard on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 9:00 a.m.
- For the Small Claims Legal Advisor, call Scott D. Reep at 866-768-9013.
Click here for a Small Claims Information Packet. (PDF, 137 KB)
For more information visit California's Department of Consumer Affairs
or visit the Small Claims section of the California Courts Self-Help Web site.If you wish to have a matter set for the Monday calendar only, insert date, time and department in your pleading, and it will be calendared upon receipt.
The Presiding Judge calls all long-cause cases, set for trial, on Fridays at 8:15 a.m. Cases are then assigned to departments within the Court.
The Court does not publish tentative rulings.
The Court observes the following holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
- Lincoln's Birthday
- President's Day
- Cesar Chavez' Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving and day after
- Christmas Day
Strategic Planning Customer Survey
WE BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF SERVICE...
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE...
HOW ARE WE DOING?
Let us know by completing the Strategic Planning Customer Survey below.
Survey in Adobe Acrobat format (8 KB)
For information on viewing Acrobat files on this Web site click here.Please mail or fax completed survey to:
Mary E. Smith
Court Executive Officer
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 94543
Fax number 707-262-1327
Fee Schedule (PDF)
