Cherokee County Criminal Court Records
Cherokee County criminal court records are stored at the courthouse in Murphy, North Carolina. The county is in Judicial District 30 in the far western tip of the state. You can search criminal court records from Cherokee County through the NC eCourts portal at no cost. The Clerk of Superior Court in Murphy handles all case filings and record requests. Cherokee County processes felonies in Superior Court and misdemeanors in District Court. The courthouse is wheelchair accessible and open to the public on weekdays. Staff can help you find criminal court records by name or case number.
Cherokee County Quick Facts
Cherokee County Criminal Court Records Clerk
The Cherokee County Clerk of Superior Court is at 75 Peachtree Street in Murphy. The building is wheelchair accessible. This office keeps all criminal court records for the county. Staff file cases, store documents, and provide copies. Call (828) 837-2522 with questions.
Cherokee County is in the far western mountains of North Carolina. It borders both Tennessee and Georgia. The courthouse in Murphy is the only court location for the county. All criminal cases filed here go through this office. The Cherokee County courts page shows criminal and civil calendars, court dates, and contact information. The Guardian ad Litem Program is active in Cherokee County. You can search court dates on the eCourts portal by name or county.
The Cherokee County Sheriff at (828) 837-2589 handles local arrests and maintains booking records. The sheriff's office is at 577 Regal Street in Murphy. Fingerprinting at the sheriff's office costs $10. The sheriff's department processes arrests from Murphy, Andrews, and the surrounding mountain communities. All criminal charges result in cases filed at the courthouse in Murphy.
The Cherokee County Courthouse page has building details, hours, and directions to the court in Murphy.
| Court |
Cherokee County Clerk of Superior Court 75 Peachtree Street Murphy, NC 28906 Phone: (828) 837-2522 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/cherokee-county |
Search Criminal Records in Cherokee County
The NC eCourts Portal is the primary online tool for searching Cherokee County criminal court records. It is free. No registration is needed. Search by party name, case number, or citation number. The portal displays charges, court dates, and case status.
You can also visit the courthouse in Murphy. The clerk's office has public access terminals for free case searches. Staff can retrieve paper files and make copies. Bring a valid ID if you plan to request copies. For a certified search, fill out Form AOC-CR-314 and pay $25 per name. You can submit this at the clerk's window or send it by mail to 75 Peachtree Street, Murphy, NC 28906.
Cherokee County Criminal Case Documents
Criminal court records in Cherokee County contain all documents from a case. The file starts with the warrant, summons, or indictment. As the case moves through court, more records are added. Bond orders, motions, discovery items, plea deals, and the final judgment all become part of the record.
Superior Court handles felonies in Cherokee County. District Court handles misdemeanors. Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, most criminal court records are public. Anyone can ask to view them at the clerk's office. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and expunged files are not open to the public.
The second image below shows details from the Cherokee County Courthouse page on the NC Courts site.
The courthouse in Murphy processes all criminal cases for the county. This includes arrests made by the Cherokee County Sheriff and local police departments within the county.
Note: Expunged criminal records in Cherokee County are removed from public view under G.S. 15A-145.
Cherokee County Criminal Court Records Fees
A certified criminal record search in Cherokee County costs $25 per name. Additional copies of the same record are $15 each if requested at the same time. Public terminal searches at the courthouse are free. The eCourts portal is also free for viewing and searching.
Document copies from case files cost different amounts based on the number of pages. Certified copies carry a higher fee than plain ones. Fees follow the state schedule under G.S. 7A-308. You can pay in person at the clerk's window in Murphy. Online payments on fines and fees for Cherokee County criminal cases can be made through the eCourts portal using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
Online Access to Cherokee County Criminal Records
The NC eCourts system gives you online access to Cherokee County criminal court records at any time. The portal works on any device with internet access. You can search cases, view filed documents, and track court dates. Registration is optional. It is free and helps if you need to check records often.
The Remote Public Access Program provides licensed data access for organizations that need bulk criminal data. The program covers all 100 counties, including Cherokee County. It works under G.S. 7A-109(d) and (e). Fees apply for RPA licenses, and payments go through the PayIt online system.
Note: Private vendors who sell North Carolina court data online are not affiliated with the NC Courts system or the SBI.
State Criminal Court Records Resources
State-level tools can supplement your search of Cherokee County criminal court records. The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search covers state prison, probation, and parole records dating back to 1972. This tool does not include Cherokee County jail records. For local jail information, contact the Cherokee County Sheriff at (828) 837-2589.
The NC State Bureau of Investigation offers fingerprint-based background checks. These are the most reliable method. The NC Sex Offender Registry shows registered offenders in the Cherokee County area. Fingerprinting at the Cherokee County Sheriff's office costs $10.
For historical court records, the NC State Archives in Raleigh may hold older Cherokee County documents on microfilm. Pre-1868 county court records handled both civil and criminal matters. Many of these are at the State Archives. Contact them at (919) 814-6840.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Cherokee County in far western North Carolina. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred. Verify the right county before you start searching.