Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Diego Superior Court has been closed for most non-emergency services from March 17 through May 22. More than 87,000 hearings from that timeframe and on the calendar for the coming months will need to be re-scheduled.

In the interest of the health and safety of all Court visitors and employees, re-scheduled hearings will be handled remotely wherever possible. The process will vary for each case type and details for the manner of appearance will be included in the re-scheduling notices that will be sent to involved parties.

In observance of the Memorial Day statewide holiday, the San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices on Monday, May 25, 2020.

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 will shut down its website (sdcourt.ca.gov) for routine maintenance on Saturday, May 9 from 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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

In the on-going effort to mitigate community spread of COVID-19, and in the interest of the health and safety of all Court visitors and employees, the San Diego Superior Court has received approval from the Judicial Council of California to extend the suspension of all non-emergency services through May 22, 2020. The Court will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, making the revised planned re-opening date Tuesday, May 26.

The San Diego Superior Court will begin hearing a few in-custody matters through videoconference on Monday, April 6. In cooperation with the Sheriff’s department, Public Defender’s office, defense counsel and the District Attorney’s office, video appearances will connect detainees in each of the County’s detention centers with courtrooms in the Central, North, South and East County Courthouses. The Court will test the new remote video system next week with the anticipation that preliminary hearings and arraignments will proceed by video in the coming weeks.

I have requested an emergency extension from the California Supreme Court Chief Justice for the San Diego Superior Court to remain closed through April 30, 2020. I have every reason to believe this request will be granted and thus, our Court will not be open for regular court business on Monday, April 6, 2020.

Organizations offering free help with emergency court services will continue to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Court works with the Judicial Council of California, State Bar of California, San Diego County Bar Association, and local service providers to assist people in need of selfrepresented services. This includes clinic services in areas of law such as restraining orders and landlord-tenant disputes within San Diego’s courthouses.

In light of California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye’s statewide Order allowing for a two-month suspension of jury trials, the San Diego Superior Court is dismissing all summoned jurors through May 22, 2020. These actions are done in the interest of community health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The San Diego Superior Court will completely close for all services during Cesar Chavez Day, March 31, 2020, and will reopen to continue providing only emergency services on April 1, 2020.