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Following a preliminary hearing, there is a second arraignment in Superior Court. Here the defendants enter a plea and bail may be reviewed. Very similar to the Municipal Court arraignment.

The Superior Courts of California are the superior courts in the U.S. state of California with general jurisdiction to hear and decide any civil or criminal action which is not specially designated to be heard in some other court or before a government agency. Each of the 58 counties in California has a superior court.

Until 1998, each California county also had one or more municipal courts and "justice of the peace" courts, which were both courts of inferior jurisdiction created pursuant to the Municipal and Justice Courts Act of 1947. Prior to that, the state had as many as six types of inferior courts, but the 1947 act reduced the number to two.

Prior to 1998, the state had been phasing out the use of justice courts after a landmark 1974 decision in which the Supreme Court of California unanimously held that it was a violation of due process to allow a non-lawyer to preside over a criminal trial which could result in incarceration of the defendant.

In 1998, Proposition 220 was approved by the state's voters, amending the state's Constitution to allow judges in each county to decide whether or not to retain municipal courts. By 2001, every California county had consolidated its municipal courts into the superior courts.

The superior courts are the lowest level of state courts in California holding general jurisdiction on civil and criminal matters. Above them are the six California Courts of Appeal, each of which hold jurisdiction over several counties, and the Supreme Court of California. As of 2007, the Superior Courts of California consisted of over 1,500 judges, and make up the largest part of California's judicial system, which is in turn the largest in the United States. Judges are elected by each county's voters to six-year terms. Vacancies on the court are filled by appointments made by the Governor.

Because Los Angeles County has the largest population of any county, it also has the largest Superior Court. The Los Angeles County Superior Court is organized into dozens of highly specialized departments dealing with everything from moving violations to mental health. It handles over 2.5 million legal matters each year, of which about 4,000 terminate in jury trials; this works out to about 4,300 matters per judge. Its 429 judges are assisted by 140 commissioners and 14 referees.

In contrast, many of California's smallest counties?like Alpine, Del Norte, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Mono, and Trinity?typically have only two Superior Court judges each, who are usually assisted by a single part-time commissioner.

Federal law (as opposed to State law) applies. Some cases may be filed in either Federal or State Court. The decision is solely up to the prosecutors. Rarely are person's prosecuted in both Federal and State court.

Federal Cases are often much more complex and require more time to prepare than State Cases.

Sentencing in Federal Court is determined by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Federal Judges have much less discretion in determining an appropriate sentence because of the Sentencing Guidelines, which often include mandatory minimum sentences.

In Federal Court, there is much less latitude in plea bargaining and the judge (Federal Magistrate) very seldom gets involved in plea negotiations.

There are many differences between the prosecution of juveniles for crimes and prosecuting adults for the same offenses.

Sentences for juveniles may include the following: home detention, juvenile hall, youth camp, or a state Youth Authority. In most states, the Youth Authority may keep a juvenile until the age of 25. Once this age is reached, the person may then be transferred to State Prison.

Fitness Hearings may be sought by the prosecutor in an attempt to send the juvenile to adult court. At a fitness hearing there is evidence and testimony concerning whether the minor is a fit and proper subject to be tried in juvenile court. If the minor is found to be fit, proceedings against the minor continue in the juvenile court. If the minor is found to be unfit, the juvenile court petition is dismissed, and the prosecuting attorney is authorized to prosecute the minor under adult criminal law.

Juvenile Records are confidential and privileged (except for probation officers, law enforcement, court personnel, the minor, and for the parents of the minor).

Records may be sealed five years or more after juvenile court jurisdiction has ended, or after a person has reached 18 years of age, whichever occurs first.