Kern County Superior Court Information

Use this page to find the right Kern County Superior Court location, look up current phone numbers and hours, and understand how the court process connects to posting bail. We keep the addresses and numbers here current because nothing is more frustrating than driving to the wrong courthouse or calling a disconnected line. We’ve helped Kern County families through these courts for more than 50 years.

Start here: find your person and your courthouse

Before anything else, confirm where your loved one is being held and which court their case is assigned to. These two steps save hours of confusion:

Metropolitan Division (Downtown Bakersfield)

The Metropolitan Division is the county’s main court complex and where most felony and in-custody criminal matters are heard. General hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 am–4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am–12:00 pm (traffic, jury, and revenue offices vary).

Branch Courthouses

Kern County is large, so the court operates branch locations across the county. These generally handle local matters; in-custody criminal arraignments are typically routed to the Metropolitan Division downtown. Branch hours are generally Monday–Thursday 8:00 am–4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am–12:00 pm.

Official court links

How the court process connects to bail

You usually don’t have to wait for a court date to get someone out. In most cases, bail is already set under the county bail schedule at the time of booking, which means a bond can be posted right away — often the same night — so your loved one is home before the arraignment. At that first hearing, the judge formally states the charges, takes a plea, and addresses bail.

The California bail premium is 10% of the full bail amount, set by state law. Here’s how to move quickly:

1. Find them. Use the Kern County inmate locator to confirm location, charges, and bail amount.
2. Estimate the cost. Our free bail bond calculator gives you the premium in seconds.
3. Call us. We confirm the booking, you sign (by phone, online, or in person), and we post the bond at the jail.

Help with bail bonds in Kern County

• Kern County bail bond services information
• Contact a local bail bondsman
• Bail bond FAQs
• Areas we serve across Kern County

Frequently asked questions

Where will an in-custody arraignment be held?

For someone booked into the county jail, the first appearance is usually at the Metropolitan Division in downtown Bakersfield — even for residents of branch-court towns like Lamont or Arvin. Confirm the courthouse on the paperwork.

Is the Taft courthouse open?

No. The Taft courthouse at 311 N Lincoln is closed until further notice. Matters that would have been heard in Taft are handled at another Kern County Superior Court location — verify which one on your paperwork or with the court.

How do I find which courthouse my case is at?

Your release or court paperwork lists the assigned courthouse, department, date, and time. You can also use the court’s online Case Information Search, or call us and we can usually help you confirm.

Can I post bail before the first court date?

Yes. Bail is usually set at booking under the county bail schedule, so a bond can be posted immediately — often the same night — and your loved one can be released before appearing in court.