How to Appear for Your Hearing

In certain circumstances, the San Diego Superior Court may allow appearances for hearings to be either in-person or remote.

Please arrive at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing and report directly to the assigned courtroom.

You can attend the hearing by video or audio conference using the free Microsoft Teams App, unless otherwise ordered by the court.

• Civil Hearings
  • Civil Harassment Restraining Orders Hearings (NOT Domestic Violence)
  • Limited Civil Hearings
  • Civil Independent Calendar Hearings
  • Civil Unlawful Detainer (Landlord-Tenant) Hearings
  • Small Claims Hearings
  • Small Claims Appeals/Trial De Novo Hearings
  • Small Claims Mediation Conferences
• Criminal Hearings
• Family Law and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders Hearings
• Probate Hearings
• Traffic/Minor Offense Hearings
• Appellate Division Oral Arguments
• Appellate Division Traffic Oral Arguments

Days before the hearing, download the free Teams App on your mobile device or computer. Please refer to the instructions below to set up your mobile device or computer with Teams to join by video conference.

If you do not have a computer or smartphone, virtual hearings can be accessed by calling the corresponding conference call phone number. These phone numbers are listed on each of the links to hearings pages by case type.

If you do not have a telephone and/or if your type of hearing will require an in-person appearance, please go to the courthouse and courtroom where your matter will be heard to appear in person.

1. From your device or computer, refer to the list of virtual hearing links assigned to the departments for your case type. You will find the courtroom on your notice or court paperwork. Click on the virtual hearing link assigned to the department that will hear your case.
2. Join the hearing from a room with no or minimal background noise.
3. Join the hearing 30 minutes before the start time indicated in your hearing notice so the courtroom clerk can check you in.

Participants should be mindful of their personal safety when participating in virtual hearings, including by considering the following: If joining the hearing using video, consider turning on background blur, or sitting in front of a neutral background such as a blank wall or door.

If there are safety concerns about appearing with video turned on, the judge/commissioner may permit a party to participate in the hearing using only audio.

If joining a virtual hearing by telephone, participants may switch caller ID off before dialing the conference number. If the caller ID is on, participants should be aware that their phone number will be displayed in the virtual hearing to others participating using the desktop app, web browser version, or smartphone app (but will not be visible to other participants also dialing in on the telephone). Switching caller ID off means that only a random 9-digit number will be shown.

Be sure to set aside time to participate in the hearing distraction-free and without children present.

Use a headset or headphones that have a microphone (such as most headphones that come with smartphones) to avoid echo and increase audio quality. Ensure you select the headphones in the settings for ‘Devices’ as the microphone and speaker. If you have the volume turned up and audio coming through the speakers of your device, it may be picked up by your microphone and create an echo. If other participants are complaining of echo and you cannot hear any echo, it is likely that you are the cause.

Ensure you are in a quiet, distraction-free location with good lighting and minimal background noise.

Participants should have their microphone muted, and cameras switched off when they are not speaking or not required to be seen, as directed by the judge/commissioner.

If appearing by telephone, do not place the Court on hold. Speak directly into the phone or headset. Do not place the phone on speakerphone as it will decrease audio quality.

Ensure devices are fully charged before the hearing and have chargers nearby. Videoconferencing can drain the battery of devices.

If you are expecting to need to share exhibits or information from your own computer screen during a hearing, please be familiar with how to show your screen in a Teams meeting. The clerk will need to grant permission for you to be able to share your screen.

Note: In case of a Microsoft Teams outage, the Court will use Zoom to conduct virtual hearings

Please visit the hearings link for each case type for the current links to access individual virtual hearings.