Misdemeanor Home Courts
Misdemeanor cases are heard in Departments 9 & 10 of the Superior Court of California, County of Shasta. Departments 9 & 10 are located on the second floor of the main courthouse at 1500 Court Street in Redding, California.
Arraignment
Formal criminal proceedings commence in Superior Court with an arraignment. During arraignment the judge will advise the accused of the charges filed by the District Attorney, explain the constitutional rights involved, and appoint counsel in the event the accused qualifies for the services of the Public Defender.
In misdemeanor cases, the Deputy District Attorney will communicate an offer to resolve the case. If you want to resolve your case, the judge will explain the procedure. In the event you qualify for the services of the Public Defender, the judge will appoint a Deputy Public Defender to represent you. The Deputy Public Defender will explain the offer communicated to you by the Deputy District Attorney and, where appropriate, negotiate on your behalf. If the case fails to resolve, the judge will schedule future court dates.
Settlement Conference
The court typically schedules settlement conferences on a Monday or Friday. The settlement conference is a court appearance in which the parties discuss potential ways to resolve the case. The Deputy Public Defender will present your case and negotiate on your behalf. In the event the case fails to resolve, the judge will set the matter for jury trial.
Trial Readiness Conference
The judge schedules the Trial Readiness Conference for a Friday at 8:15 a.m. You should arrive at 8:00 a.m. or sooner in order to be present when the judge calls the case. During the Trial Readiness Conference, the parties will have one more opportunity to resolve the case. In the event the case fails to resolve, the Deputy Public Defender will confirm the matter for jury trial.
Trial Assignment Calendar
The trial assignment calendar occurs on the same Friday as the Trial Readiness Conference and takes place in a felony home (Department 1 or 2) court at 10:00 a.m. You should arrive before 10:00 a.m. to avoid the judge issuing a bench warrant for your arrest. During the trial assignment calendar, the judge will assign your case to a trial department for the following Tuesday. Jury trials take place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Court regularly begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.
Judgment & Sentencing
Upon a plea of guilty or no contest or a jury rendering a verdict of guilty, the judge will impose a sentence. Your attorney will present information to the judge on your behalf. After the judge hears from your attorney and the deputy district attorney, the judge will decide the appropriate sentence.