Website Unavailable Due to Maintenance

San Diego Superior Court Planned Website Outage - Thursday, May 19, 7-9 p.m.

May 18, 2022

The San Diego Superior Court website (sdcourt.ca.gov) will not be available due to maintenance on Thursday, May 19 from 7-9 p.m.

The website closure will affect all San Diego Superior Court webpages.

Judge Tamila Ipema

San Diego Superior Court Judge Tamila E. Ipema Retires

May 10, 2022

The Honorable Tamila Ebrahimi Ipema will retire from the San Diego Superior Court on June 30, 2022, after 17 years on the bench. Judge Ipema was initially appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court as a Commissioner in 2005. In 2008, Judge Ipema was selected and appointed by the judges of the San Diego Superior Court to become a commissioner in San Diego. Just one year later, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her as a judge to the San Diego Superior Court, where she presided over civil and criminal matters in addition to family law assignments.

Judge Brannigan Retires

San Diego Superior Court Judge Joseph P. Brannigan Retires

May 5, 2022

The Honorable Joseph P. Brannigan has retired after nearly 18 years of service on the San Diego Superior Court Bench, ending a storied career that started with a stint as an officer in the U.S. Army followed by time spent as an FBI agent, deputy district attorney, and assistant U.S. attorney.

Photo of courtroom at Whaley House

Historic Whaley House to Hold Court for the First Time in 151 Years

April 21, 2022

SAN DIEGO – April 21, 2022 – The Whaley House in Old Town San Diego will revisit its roots as San Diego’s second courthouse holding court again on Tuesday, May 17, with Judge Richard S. Whitney presiding.

Old Town San Diego was the seat of government and justice in the late 1800s before moving to downtown San Diego – then called New Town – in 1872. In recognition and celebration of the Whaley House holding court from 1868-1871, this event extends the current San Diego Superior Court to include the Whaley House as a location for official court business for one day.

Court closure

San Diego Superior Court Closed Thursday, March 31, 2022

March 21, 2022

he San Diego Superior Court will be closed on Thursday, March 31, 2022, in observance of the courtwide holiday commemorating Cesar Chavez Day.

The public is urged to visit the Court’s website at sdcourt.ca.gov to handle traffic tickets or obtain court information. 

 

Westview High School Mock Trial team

Westview High School Wins 16th Annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition

March 14, 2022

Westview High School’s Mock Trial team outperformed 31 other San Diego County high school teams to win the annual legal competition. The San Diego County Mock Trial program provides high school students with the opportunity to experience the legal field in courtrooms rather than classrooms. The student teams take on the roles of lawyers and witnesses facing off on a hypothetical case in front of actual state and federal judges. The multi-round competition returned to in-person competition after being virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mock Trial banner at the Central Courthouse

16th Annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition Focuses on 4th Amendment

March 8, 2022

March 8, 2022 – An imaginary case involving whether smart camera footage can be used in a murder trial has drawn hundreds of local high school students into the 16th Annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition.

Public notice

San Diego Superior Court Planned System Outage: Odyssey case management system - Friday, March 4, 6-8 p.m.

March 3, 2022

The San Diego Superior Court’s Odyssey case management system will not be available due to a planned upgrade.

Friday, March 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Retirement of Judge Lorna A. Alksne

San Diego Superior Court Judge Lorna A. Alksne Retires

February 16, 2022

The Honorable Lorna A. Alksne will conclude more than 20 years of service on San Diego Superior Court bench today, capping her judicial career with the recent completion of her term as presiding judge.

Court closure

San Diego Superior Court Closed February 11 & 21, 2022

February 1, 2022

The San Diego Superior Court will be closed on Friday, February 11 and Monday, February 21, 2022, in observance of the statewide holidays commemorating Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day.

The public is urged to visit the Court’s website at sdcourt.ca.gov to handle traffic tickets or obtain court information.

Judge Michael T. Smyth Assumes Presiding Judge Role

Judge Michael T. Smyth Assumes Presiding Judge Role

January 12, 2022

January 12, 2022 – Judge Michael T. Smyth assumed the top judicial leadership position as the San Diego Superior Court’s Presiding Judge on January 1, 2022. He was elected by his fellow jurists in August to the two-year term and served as the Assistant Presiding Judge during calendar years 2020 and 2021. He succeeds Judge Lorna A. Alksne who finished her term as Presiding Judge on December 31, 2021.

Grand jury application - deadline extended to Jan. 28

San Diego County Grand Jury Application Period Extended

January 11, 2022

January 11, 2022 – The San Diego Superior Court is extending the application period for those wanting to serve on the County Grand Jury to January 28, 2022, to encourage additional citizens from throughout the county to apply.

Court closure

San Diego Superior Court Closed Monday, January 17, 2022

January 5, 2022

In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. statewide holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Monday, January 17, 2022.

The public is urged to visit the Court’s website at sdcourt.ca.gov to handle traffic tickets or obtain court information. 

 

Public notice

San Diego Superior Court Planned System Outage: Odyssey case management system - Dec. 17-18

December 15, 2021

The San Diego Superior Court’s Odyssey case management system will not be available due to a planned upgrade.

Friday, Dec. 17 at 5:00 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 18 at 1:00 p.m.

Court closure

San Diego Superior Court Closed Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31, 2021

December 15, 2021

In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day statewide holidays, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Friday, December 24, 2021, and Friday, December 31, 2021.

All courtrooms and business offices will provide normal business hours on the days surrounding the holidays.

Court closure

San Diego Superior Court Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

November 15, 2021

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26, 2021.

The public is urged to visit the Court’s website at sdcourt.ca.gov to handle traffic tickets or obtain court information. 

 

San Diego County Grand Jury Looking for New Applicants

San Diego County Grand Jury Looking for New Applicants

November 9, 2021

The San Diego Superior Court is now seeking dedicated residents with sound judgment from throughout the county to serve on the 2022/2023 San Diego County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury investigates citizen complaints and performs its traditional function as a “watchdog” over government agencies.

Public Notice

Some Court Services Modified at the Vista Courthouse

November 9, 2021

November 8, 2021 – At approximately 6:00 a.m. this morning the ceiling collapsed in Department 12 of the Vista Courthouse. No one was present in the courtroom at the time of the collapse.

San Diego Superior Court Public Portal Unavailable Due To Maintenance

San Diego Superior Court Announces Planned Public Portal Closure

November 5, 2021

The San Diego Superior Court Public Portal will not be available due to a planned maintenance outage beginning

Saturday, November 6 at 4:00 a.m. through Sunday, November 7 at 2:00 p.m.

The outage will affect the system that accepts payments for Traffic and Minor Offense tickets. Payments can be made after the maintenance outage is complete.

Court closure

San Diego Superior Court Closed Thursday, November 11, 2021

November 1, 2021

In observance of the Veterans Day statewide holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Thursday, November 11, 2021.

The public is urged to visit the Court’s website at sdcourt.ca.gov to handle traffic tickets or obtain court information.