The Court of Sessions was created in 1850 by the California State Legislature and disbanded in 1863 when its activities were transferred to the County Court. The court served two functions: transacting general county business and hearing certain criminal cases. The majority of this collection is made up of criminal case files from 1850 to 1862; it also includes Board of Supervisors records and calendars from when the board acted as the trial board for the court, plus court minutes, fee books, criminal records and indexes, calendars, jury books, an accounting daybook, civil judgment book, and alcalde's civil docket.

The Court of Sessions was created in 1850 by the California State Legislature. It was made up of a county judge, two justices of the peace, and the county clerk, who met monthly. The County Board of Supervisors acted as a trial board for the court. The court served two functions: transacting general county business and hearing certain criminal cases. Jurisdiction included cases of assault, assault and battery, breach of peace, riot, affray, petit larceny, and misdemeanors with fines of less than $500 or jail time less than three months. The law of 1851 added the duty of grand jury investigation of offenses excepting murder, manslaughter, and arson, and appellate jurisdiction over justice's, recorder's, and mayor's courts in criminal cases. In 1863, the activities of the Court of Sessions were transferred to the County Court.

6 linear feet (13 boxes, 13 volumes)

All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.

Collection is open for research use.