Mendocino County Superior Court

Mendocino County Superior Court
1950 Mendocino County Courthouse (photographed in 2019)
Map
39°09′01″N 123°12′30″W / 39.15023°N 123.20833°W / 39.15023; -123.20833
Established1850
JurisdictionMendocino County, California
Location
Coordinates39°09′01″N 123°12′30″W / 39.15023°N 123.20833°W / 39.15023; -123.20833
Appeals toCalifornia Court of Appeal for the First District
Websitemendocino.courts.ca.gov
Presiding Judge
CurrentlyHon. Keith Faulder[1]
Assistant Presiding Judge
CurrentlyHon. Carly Dolan[1]
Court Executive Officer
CurrentlyKim Turner[1]

The Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino, also known as the Mendocino County Superior Court or Mendocino Superior Court, is the California superior court with jurisdiction over Mendocino County.

History

Mendocino County was one of the original counties established when California gained statehood in 1850.

For revenue and judicial purposes, Mendocino County was attached to Sonoma County and gained its independence in 1859;[2] that year the county seat was established at Ukiah. The only other competitor for the county seat was Calpella. The first county courthouse was built in 1859.[3]: 234, 272  Bids for the new courthouse were received in August 1859 and upon unsealing the bids, the contract was awarded to E. Rathburn for US$6,000 (equivalent to $200,000 in 2023). This first courthouse was accepted on January 24, 1860.[3]: 287 

It was replaced by a new courthouse in 1872, which was described as "a building that should be the pride of every citizen of Mendocino County".[3]: 246  The architect was A. P. Petit.[4] The initial plans were accepted by the County Board of Supervisors on January 15, 1872, then summarily rejected and revised plans were accepted on March 23.[3]: 288–289  It had a prominent dome or cupola and stood 71 ft (22 m) tall, including the 34 ft (10 m) dome, with a footprint of 111 ft × 70 ft (34 m × 21 m).[3]: 289  During construction, county offices were temporarily moved to the upper level of Hoffman's store, at the corner of Perkins and State streets.[3]: 290 

The 1873 courthouse in Ukiah was replaced on the same site in 1950 with the current, modern building designed by C.A. Caulkins, Jr.[4][5] An annex to the 1873 courthouse, built in 1928, was retained.[6]

Venues

Map
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15km
10miles
2
1
Mendocino County Superior Court locations:[7]
1
100 N State St (Ukiah)
2
700 S Franklin St (Fort Bragg)

A new 7-room courthouse has been proposed for Ukiah to replace the 1950 structure. The new courthouse will be built on a 4.1-acre (1.7 ha) site off East Perkins Street. The branch courthouse in Fort Bragg sees limited service.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "About the Court". Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  2. ^ California State Assembly. "An Act to define the Boundaries and provide for the Organization of Mendocino County". Tenth Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. CVIII p. 98. direct URL
  3. ^ a b c d e f Palmer, Lyman L. (1880). History of Mendocino County, California. San Francisco, California: Alley, Bowen & Co. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Mendocino County, California". Courthouse History. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Mendocino County". California Supreme Court Historical Society. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  6. ^ Deacon, John (2015). "Mendocino County". American Courthouses. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Location & Contact Info". The Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Mendocino County, New Ukiah Courthouse". The Judicial Branch of California. Retrieved 27 July 2022.