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.

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’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.

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 16^th Annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Judge Richard E. L. Strauss will retire from the San Diego Superior Court today after serving 26 years on the bench having presided over civil, probate, and criminal law cases.

In observance of the Columbus Day statewide court holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Monday, October 11, 2021.

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

Due to staffing shortages, the San Diego Superior Court will no longer provide official court reporters in most family law matters, effective November 30, 2021.