The 17^th Annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition fielded a record number of competitors with local high school students arguing a realistic criminal trial scenario.

The Honorable Peter L. Gallagher recently completed his last day on the San Diego Superior Court bench, ending a more than 20-year career as a judge, most of which was spent presiding over criminal trials. He was first elected to the position in 2002 and was sworn into office in January 2003.

The San Diego Superior Court will be closed on Monday, February 13 and Monday, February 20, 2023, 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.

The San Diego Superior Court is extending the application period for those wanting to serve on the County Grand Jury to February 3, 2023, to encourage additional citizens from throughout the county to apply. Less than half of the expected number of applications have been received to date.

The Grand Jury investigates citizen complaints and performs its traditional function as a “watchdog” over government agencies. It does not conduct criminal investigations.

Due to an unexpected power outage, the North County Courthouse in Vista is closed  Thursday, January 12, 2023. The courthouse will  re-open Friday, January 13.

All hearings were canceled for Thursday, January 12, and will be re-scheduled. Notices will be sent out to parties with the re-scheduled date.

The Honorable Laura W. Halgren recently completed her last day on the San Diego Superior Court bench, capping more than 20 years as a judge with assignments across criminal, civil, and family courts. Much of Judge Halgren’s time was spent in the criminal courts including trials, sentencings, and the unique experience of overseeing a criminal calendar during the COVID-19 pandemic when remote appearances were coordinated for defendants to handle courtroom matters without leaving the jails.

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 16, 2023.

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

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 Monday, December 26, 2022 and Monday, January 2, 2023.

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

The San Diego Superior Court has restored additional in-person access following updated state and local public health guidance that allows for the relaxing of certain COVID-19 safety protocols. Public access has generally reverted to pre-pandemic levels while many of the recently introduced online and remote options remain available.

In accordance with state and local public health guidance, facial coverings are optional, but recommended, for all individuals. Face coverings may be required, regardless of vaccination status, in some areas within the courthouses. 

The San Diego Superior Court is seeking applicants to serve on the San Diego County Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC). The Juvenile Justice Commission is a state-mandated, court-appointed citizens’ commission.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, 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 is now seeking dedicated residents with sound judgment from throughout the county to serve on the 2023/2024 San Diego County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury investigates citizen complaints and performs its traditional function as a “watchdog” over government agencies. It does not conduct criminal investigations.

The Honorable Jeffrey S. Bostwick recently completed his last day on the San Diego Superior Court bench and will officially retire in the coming months. His San Diego Superior Court career crosses more than 25 years between his service beginning as a commissioner in 1997 and his first election to a Superior Court judge seat in 2002.

In observance of the Veterans Day statewide holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Friday, November 11, 2022.

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

In observance of the California Native American Day statewide holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Friday, September 23, 2022.

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

In observance of the Labor Day statewide holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Monday, September 5, 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 beginning on Friday, Aug. 19 at 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 21 at 5:00 p.m. to allow for Small Claims cases to be converted to the Odyssey case management system.

The following online services are affected:

The San Diego Superior Court's Family Register of Actions and Traffic Payment Portal will not be available due to maintenance on Friday, August 5 from 6-9 p.m.

Ed Lopatin was selected to serve as the foreperson of the 2022-2023 San Diego County Grand Jury, which started service on July 1, 2022.

Lopatin draws from his background as an audit manager and finance director with the City and County of San Francisco as he assumes this role with the Grand Jury. Lopatin is the author of three books and is an actor performing in San Diego community theaters.

With Assembly Bill (AB) 199 enacted into law and effective July 1, 2022, the San Diego Superior Court has reduced civil assessment fees added to criminal and traffic cases and removed outstanding civil assessments imposed prior to July 1, 2022.