The north and west shores of Lake Tahoe, including Tahoe City and Kings Beach, are in Placer County, California. A case from there is filed in the Placer County Superior Court, which keeps a courthouse on the lake in Tahoe City in addition to its courthouses in Roseville and Auburn.
I’m Theodore FitzGerald, a criminal defense lawyer licensed in California and Nevada, with an office in Stateline. I work from one rule: the government has to follow the law at every step, on the California side of the north shore as anywhere else.
Where the court is and what it handles
The Superior Court Tahoe Courthouse is at 2501 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145, with one courtroom, Department 14. The court’s local rules let most papers be filed at the Tahoe courthouse: “The Tahoe Court does not accept Adoption, Family Support, Juvenile, or Probate papers.” The court’s main criminal clerk’s office is in Roseville, and your citation or notice to appear says which courthouse your case is set in. Check the address on it before you travel.
The courthouse has free parking in front and weapons screening at the entrance; the court suggests allowing an extra five to ten minutes. There is no public Wi-Fi.
Can I appear remotely?
Placer County’s local rules start from a preference: “In-person appearances are encouraged.” A defendant may ask to appear remotely by filing the court’s form PL-CR012, Request for Remote Appearance: Criminal, at least two court days before the hearing, and a judge has to approve it.
Some hearings are off the table. A defendant may not appear remotely at an arraignment, a court or jury trial, a preliminary hearing, or a sentencing. For the hearings in between, remote appearance is possible with approval. The court does not send remote links on the day of the hearing.
When a remote appearance is approved, treat it like a courtroom. Use a quiet room, a working camera and microphone, and dress as you would for court. Judges notice, and a clean remote appearance makes the next request easier to grant.
Address and contact
Placer County Superior Court, Tahoe Courthouse 2501 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145 (mail: P.O. Box 5669) Phone: (530) 584-3460 Clerk’s office: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Court website: placer.courts.ca.gov
Working with FitzGerald Law in Tahoe City
On a Placer County case, my office confirms which courthouse the case is set in, files the remote-appearance request where the rules allow one, and tells you in advance which hearings the court will require you to attend in person. Because Placer limits remote appearances more than many courts, that planning starts at the first call.
The date on your paperwork is already set. Hire me now, and I’ll get to work on everything that comes before it. Call FitzGerald Law.