Which Orange County Courthouse Will My Criminal Case Be In?

Your Orange County criminal case is filed at the justice center assigned to the city where the offense allegedly occurred, not where you live. Four courthouses handle adult criminal matters: Central in Santa Ana, North in Fullerton, West in Westminster, and Harbor in Newport Beach.

At the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo, we appear in all four, often weekly.

How Does Orange County Decide Which Courthouse Gets Your Case?

Orange County decides which courthouse gets your criminal case by the city where the offense is alleged to have happened, which usually means the city of the agency that arrested you.

That assignment follows a matrix the Presiding Judge sets under Local Rule 365 and publishes in the Court Designation List. Your citation or release paperwork names the location. Check it rather than assuming, because arriving at the wrong building does not excuse a missed appearance.

Which Orange County Justice Center Covers Your City?

Each of the four criminal justice centers covers a defined group of Orange County cities.

• Central Justice Center, Santa Ana: Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park
• North Justice Center, Fullerton: Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Yorba Linda
• West Justice Center, Westminster: Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, Westminster
• Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach: Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano

Geography does not always predict the answer. A Costa Mesa case goes to Westminster, not to Newport Beach next door.

Why Can a Felony Trial Move to a Different Orange County Courthouse?

A felony trial can move to a different Orange County courthouse because felony trials are assigned by courtroom availability rather than by city.

Misdemeanors are tried at the justice center designated for the city. A felony is assigned to whichever justice center has an open trial courtroom, so the building where you are arraigned may not be where your case is tried.

Which Orange County Courthouses Do Not Hear Adult Criminal Cases?

Two Orange County courthouses regularly turn criminal defendants away. Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange handles juvenile, family law, and domestic violence restraining orders. The Costa Mesa Justice Complex handles probate, mental health, and elder abuse restraining orders.

Neither hears adult criminal trials. If your paperwork names a building you do not recognize, check it against the Orange County Superior Court locations before your date.

Talk to an Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer Who Knows These Courts

Finding the courthouse is the easy part. Knowing the judges and deputy district attorneys inside it is what shapes a case. Call the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo at (714) 547-4636 or contact us online. As an Orange County criminal defense lawyer with more than 30 years in these four courthouses, Mr. Bruzzo will tell you what to expect in yours.