Criminal defense · Sacramento, Sacramento County
In Sacramento County, traffic matters are heard at the Carol Miller Justice Center while criminal cases are heard downtown, so the first step is checking where your date actually is. First Call Defense connects you with an independent California-licensed criminal defense attorney who can review your papers and explain your options.
A free, no-obligation first call. Flat fee quoted before any work starts.
What is local in Sacramento
The court lists its courthouses and what each one hears. Traffic, small claims and unlawful detainer cases are heard at the Carol Miller Justice Center; criminal cases are heard at other courthouses. Your papers name the location.
Official source ↗The Sacramento County Public Defender represents people who cannot afford a lawyer in criminal cases when the court appoints it.
Official source ↗The Sacramento County District Attorney prosecutes felonies and misdemeanors in the county, including DUI cases from the city of Sacramento.
Official source ↗After a DUI arrest in Sacramento County, the license case runs through the DMV's Driver Safety branch, not the court. The DMV handles many Driver Safety matters through its online case system and a statewide phone line, and hearings can be held by video or in person. Use the contact printed on your notice of suspension.
Official source ↗Sacramento separates traffic and criminal work. A traffic infraction goes to the Carol Miller Justice Center, while a misdemeanor or felony case, including most DUI cases, is heard at a criminal courthouse. Court hours and locations have changed in recent years, so check the court's location page and the notice you received before every date. If you cannot afford a lawyer in a criminal case, ask the judge at the arraignment about the Public Defender.
For an old Sacramento conviction, the first question for a dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4 is usually whether probation was granted and completed. The court's case records and your criminal history from the California Department of Justice show this, and an attorney can read them with you before you file anything.
Being in the state capital does not change the DMV process. After a DUI arrest you still have 10 days following receipt of the notice of suspension to request a hearing, and the DMV handles it through its Driver Safety branch, often by video. The court case runs separately and has its own dates. An attorney can handle both and explain options such as an ignition interlock restriction or a restricted license.
This site is not an emergency line. If someone is in custody or has a court date tomorrow, contact the court, the public defender's office or a criminal defense attorney directly now.
Local information as of October 2026. Court locations, hours and local rules change; check the official source before you go.
Easy to start
You tell us what is going on. We find the right attorney for it.
Choose your topic and leave your contact details. You don’t need a complete file to get started.
Our intake team gets in touch, clarifies what you need and connects you with an independent attorney licensed in California.
The attorney reviews your case and quotes the scope and a fee in writing. You decide whether to go ahead.
Who is behind First Call Defense
First Call Defense is part of Omnilex. Leon leads Omnilex’s US business from San Francisco. He is a California attorney and spent about twelve years at Goodwin and Kirkland & Ellis before joining Omnilex.
Leon does not take on the individual matters that come through this site. Your matter is handled by the independent California attorney you choose to engage, who works in criminal defense law.
You may still be wondering …
According to the court, traffic cases are heard at the Carol Miller Justice Center. Check the court's location page and your notice for the current hours before you go.
Not necessarily. The DMV holds many Driver Safety hearings remotely by video. The details are on your hearing notice, and you can be represented by an attorney.
The first call is free and without obligation. If you want an attorney to take on your matter, the attorney quotes the scope and fee in writing before any work starts.
Our intake team reviews your request and gets in touch to clarify it and arrange the call. Sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not book an appointment.
The first step is free
Time for your situation.
Clear, personal and without obligation.