Visiting The Court

Visiting The Court - Things To Know

Requests for Accommodations

If you have business with the Court and require accommodations because of a disability please contact the Court in advance. The Court requires notification in advance in order to provide certain accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter. For more information on the Court’s ADA Policy and requesting accommodations please refer to the ADA section of this website.

Courtroom Etiquette

Proper Dress
Individuals attending court sessions should dress neatly and appropriately. Shorts, hats, and tank tops are examples of inappropriate attire.

Proper Behavior
Enter the courtroom quickly and quietly. The bailiff will remove individuals who are not quiet while court is in session. No laughing, whispering, giggling, talking or applauding, nor gum chewing, eating or drinking is allowed in the courtroom. All electronic devices, such as cellular phones and pagers, must be turned off.

Arranging Your Visit to the Courthouse

Scheduling
Self-guided tours may be arranged by contacting the Juror & Public Services Manager at (559) 488-3467. Visits may be scheduled for Monday through Friday during court hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m..

Agenda
Visits should be scheduled with the Juror & Public Services Manager at least 2 weeks prior to the date you would like to visit. Discuss your group's interests with the Juror & Public Services Manager, including any request for informational presentations by a judge, commissioner, or deputy sheriff. You must call the Juror & Public Services Manager the day before your visit for confirmation and your agenda.

Group Size
The court will attempt to accommodate any sized group. It may be necessary, however, to limit the number of individuals entering a courtroom during ongoing proceedings. Generally, trial courtrooms can accommodate larger groups. Large groups may want to split into smaller groups to enable observation of courtrooms with limited space.

Visiting the Courthouse

Entering the Courthouse
The lobby has a metal detector and an airport type x-ray machine for screening purposes. All weapons, including pocketknives of all sizes, tear gas, stun guns, scissors, knitting needles, etc., cannot be brought into the courthouse. Even the smallest of these objects will not be allowed. Food and beverages, including water, cannot be brought into the courthouse. There is a cafeteria located on the B-2 level and water fountains are located on each floor by the restrooms.

Courtroom Organization
The courthouse is a public building and you are free to visit many areas. The Criminal Felony Department is located on the B-1 Level. The Juror Services Department is located on the first floor, directly across the breezeway from the main lobby. The Unlimited Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Criminal Misdemeanor Departments are located on the fourth floor. The Fresno County Public Law Library is located on the sixth floor. Contact the Law Librarian at (559) 237-2227 for visit information. Courtrooms are located on the B-1 and B-2 levels, and the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh floors. Most courtrooms are available to the public but some matters may not be suitable for children. Additionally, certain cases are confidential by law, such as most juvenile matters, and therefore are not available for public observation. Proceedings that may be observed include criminal misdemeanors, arraignments, preliminary hearings, and sentencings; traffic, drug court, and jury trials.

Public Parking

Click here for information regarding public parking near the courthouse.