Well, this week's TO DO is DONE :))) I received a "camera" ticket early February, and "gloominated" over it for several months. I wanted to fight it, but I guess every picture tells a story, don't it??? So, after googling best times to go here, I threw all caution to the wind and drove over to Santa Monica. I parked a good half mile away to get my steps in and got into the courthouse around 10:15 AM anyway after going through a safety check I was told to walk down the hall and I could go pay it. There was nobody on line and the lovely fellow behind the counter couldn't have been kinder and easier going. Boom done! I cannot believe how Angelenos drive these days... rolling stops ( they don't) and breaking so many laws and regulations including speeding, cutting one another off, left turns from right side of the road... oh I could go on and on... However, I chose to pay and go to Traffic School so I don't get any points on my license. My tip is: don't go first thing in the morning to pay a ticket...wait until after 10a or go early afternoon. There's plenty of parking on the street. The walk will do everybody good if you park a little further away and get your steps in IMHO!!! ;))) I am glad I went for sure! And the experience was great! PS Mondays and Fridays are always more busy vs mid-week!!! read more

Julio. Let's start with him.... There's an Officer named Julio. I suspect he's in Upper-Level Management? I observed Julio interact with a dozen+ Courthouse staff and fellow Officers for well-over 30 minutes. His demeanor was so warm, encouraging, playful, sincere, engaging and supportive, I couldn't help but go up to him and share my thoughts of his powerfully positive energy. We had a wonderful conversation for 5 minutes. I walked away from our talk with a grin from ear-to-ear. This guy IS the REAL DEAL - The CONSUMMATE Professional. Michael. Let's now talk about him... There's a Customer Service gent named Michael who works the Traffic Ticket Window. I visited this Office/Window several weeks prior to my (traffic) Court Date. My experience was great. Michael was patient with me and answered all my silly questions. He provided me with pertinent feedback and made some very helpful suggestions. He was thoughtful, patient and fun to talk to. Nice work Michael! Then there was "The Judge". I wish I had her name. She was a stand-in, covering the regular Judge on Tuesday, 12/30. This lady was witty, fun, high-energy, grounded and just down-right sweet. Although she didn't have a Southern drawl, she certainly had the hospitality of a Woman of the South. I Highly Recommend NOT getting a ticket, but if you have to appear in Court.... ...I would HIGHLY Recommend the Santa Monica Courthouse :) Keep up the fantastic work, ya'll Sincerely, read more

May 2025 update: there is no longer validated parking at the Civic Center. Instead, there's a parking structure where they will validate parking on the corner of Avenida Mazatlán & Olympic Dr, right behind the courthouse. When you get off the 10 freeway at 4th Street, head south on 4th Street and go past Olympic Dr, then turn right on Civic Center Dr (the very next street past Olympic). Then turn right on Avenida Mazatlán (it's a small street that looks like an alley, the very first street). Go all the way until you get almost to the end, and the entrance to the parking structure will be on the right, just before you hit Olympic Dr. read more

Review of Santa Monica Courthouse is for the Jury Logistics I was pleasantly surprised by how well set up the jury logistics are at the Santa Monica Courthouse. Parking Parking can be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with the area. The Civic Parking Structure is listed as being on Olympic Drive, but the actual entrance I found was on the one-way street Avenida Mazatlán. Once inside, the structure is well-marked, and jury parking is on the 3rd floor. From there, it's about a 5-minute walk to the courthouse entrance on Main Street. Definitely recommend checking Google Maps ahead of time to avoid circling the block. Jury Assembly Room The jury room on the 3rd floor of the courthouse is clean and relatively modern, though a bit sparse in decor. What stands out is the TV room set-up, which is a really great touch -- a comfortable way to pass the time. Amenities The courthouse has several amenities that make the waiting period more bearable: Reading room for those who prefer a quieter space. Computer desks with partitions and charging docks (around 20 stations). A large outdoor patio with tables and chairs -- nice if you want some fresh air. Vending machines that take credit cards (a small but appreciated detail). Free Wi-Fi that worked well. Bathrooms were clean and accessible. There's even a refrigerator available if you bring lunch or snacks that need to stay cold. Overall While the exterior logistics (especially parking) could be more intuitive, the inside amenities and setup are very juror-friendly. Definitely one of the better jury duty setups I've experienced -- just plan ahead for parking and you'll be fine read more

Street parking is fairly readily available anf the balifs at the security in the entrance are very polite and efficiently process everyone through either minimal wait. read more

It's a pretty lowkey place. Most of the drinking fountains do work and my mouth got hella dry in court. Something this woman on a skateboard is going around screaming about shit in a megaphone. The stairs are the wrong size. I don't think anyone really knows what's going on but you can go there and watch people get sued and evicted and all kinds of shit. It's all brown and wood in there. read more

If you are lucky enough to speak with a clerk named Brenda at Santa Monica Courthouse you will walk away with more than what you've asked for. After speaking with so many people regarding my issue, Brenda was the only one who had the knowledge and thoroughness to help me. Her kind and positive attitude was something I really needed after all this stress and waisted time. All I can say is thank you Brenda and may you continue to help others in the same way you've helped me. P.s - you're not new nor old, but just timeless (: read more

Have you tried calling this number or the number listed on the actual website? And tells you to put in your own know and pin

I had to sue Cross Creek Village h o a because they were ripping everyone off. They Lied about a million times spending homeowners money. They had two judges here in Santa Monica rule against them. And they were ordered to pay me $10,000 in small claims court. After they were ordered to pay me, then magically provided an amendment to the governing documents that absolve them of the payment but never explained why we paid over $200,000 in needless litigation for documents they we're trying to amend that needed no Amendment. They appealed and judge Lisa Sepe was assigned the appeal. Honestly, I don't know what she's doing sitting on the bench. Myself and other homeowners all paid $350 each to file Oppositions in the original case. I've been had to pay filing fees and service fees to sue them in small claims court and this judge ignores all of that and let's these Liars off the hook. Seriously? I guess that shows you what a uCLA education pays for since something as simple as a breach of contract appeal should have never have been allowed to be filed by an entity that had been suspended by the Franchise Tax Board. read more

On 8/6/25 at 2:30 PM, I went to the booth outside the Santa Monica court house that takes care of traffic school. I was under the impression that I needed to turn in a stamped copy of my community service hours. I had already submitted the original at the La Cienega courthouse 2 months ago, where they kept the original and gave me a stamped copy. I explained this to the clerk in Santa Monica but she dismissively told me they only accept originals and didn't clarify the situation. I inconveniently spent time, gas, and $20 to get an original at la cienega, only to be told on 8/7/25 at 1:30 PM by a lady that my hours were submitted and that I didn't need to turn in additional documents (a copy). During the first encounter, there were two indicators that should have alerted the clerk that I had already submitted my hours. She should have been prompted to check the system but failed to do so, causing me unnecessary confusion and inconvenience. I am very dissatisfied with the services provided! read more

Rare is the occasion that someone would be writing a positive review for a courthouse LOL but in such a difficult time we are quite fortunate to have these hard-working individuals maintaining our court system for us. One gentleman, William who helped me with my traffic issue was exceptionally helpful and very patient with all of my questions. unfortunately I have to pay the big fine I do not mind as I know I was given a fair shot and I believe the ruling was still fair and I'm very grateful that the court has been forgiving and is granted me options to make payments as needed to honor my obligation. With friendly helpful people like William I can imagine many of us are very thankful. read more

Dear Lord, When I lose a case or life does not go my way, please continue to support me in making a choice to reflect upon my contribution to the outcome. How I might draw upon it as a learning experience from which I may improve. Give me the humility to extend the benefit of the doubt to those who have dedicated their lives to the law. At the very least, please intervene if I inch towards becoming someone who upon losing starts publishing accusatory, ignorant reviews. Amen. Kidding, not kidding. While preparing for jury duty at the Santa Monica Courthouse, these reviews got me all kinds of worked up. Acknowledging that many posts were that which I describe in prayer, there are still enough fair minded comments that led me to prepare for the worst. Perhaps that preparation is what made jury duty so delightful. I was called at 8:15am on a Thursday. The jury summons referenced possibly being rerouted to a parking structure quite a distance away. Reviews took that comment and upped the ante by stating the directions for parking where awful. Perhaps mine and those in the jury portal were revised as the lot was exactly as mapped/described. I arrived at 7:45am to a sign that read 433 parking spaces were available. If you are called before 10am, I cannot imagine trouble finding parking. After parking, I practically fell onto the courthouse nextdoor. Luckily too as I'm not a morning person and anticipated issues. As I reached the courthouse, there was a queue outside waiting for 8am open. The security guards at TSA style check in were lovely, as were guards in the hall. I was first to arrive in the jury waiting room and greeted by a very pleasant woman who provided unsolicited directions on parking validations being provided at the end of the day. Clearly, a common question. Comfortable seats, clean bathrooms, fully stocked vending machine with affordable snacks. The $1.50 Pirate's Booty find was very exciting. Sadly. At 9:15am, the court clerk, Mr.Lee, phoned the jury waiting room and we were summoned to Judge Chu's courtroom in an organized fashion. Both Mr.Lee and Judge Chu wore facial masks, politely sharing public health information on the value of masking. No one pushed it but masks were available, as was an operational hand sanitizer machine. The courtroom doors were kept open throughout. Judge Chu noted the rarity of being able to have a courtroom that allows fresh air to flow. Both Mr.Lee and Judge Chu struck the perfect balance of educating without preaching. Even with a pro se defendant, Judge Chu oversaw his courtroom at an efficient clip and met all jurors with kindness. My jury service experience was a dream. Since I get called to serve every single year, I do hope that next year will be at the Santa Monica Courthouse. Thank you! read more

I had to file a motion to set aside default judgment before 4:45 PM or I would lose my reserved hearing date. My original filing was rejected because I forgot how to paralegal. I was so stressed out I could barely string two words together coherently. Called the clerk's office for help and got to speak to an angelic (is it rude to refer to a man as angelic? Okay, sorry instead, let's say) saint-like (as in, gracious, kind, patient, non-judgmental, helpful, smart) clerk named Andrew. He was the absolute best! He sat with me while I mumbled gibberish at him and just acted weird. He was not phased (outwardly anyway) in the least and his calm demeanor helped me enough to get it filed. (It was still wrong but I fixed it a third time) Long story long, I saved my hearing date thanks to St. Andrew! read more

After 3 in person visits to SM Small Claims, due to delays bc my former tenant suing me did not send his proof to the judge, then he needed to reschedule bc he was getting married and I rescheduled his date, I really learned how everything went down. Great parking street off 4th St and south of Olympic is affordable. Entry off 4th St and go around structure to alley entrance. FYI - The female judge with hyphenated name does NOT review your material prior to the case. She opens it in front of you and barely looks it over, let's you give your defense and then she tells you she'll review and send out verdict. My tenant sued me for $3k+ bc of a leak in condo during CoVid. Restoration co was out within a day of the leak and got the job done in less than 2 wks. I graciously sent them $3000. to move elsewhere (not every landlord would do this) while restoration co worked in unit. Their rent $4600. Less than 2 wks was too long for them and they broke lease but paid for the month of Jan - month of leak. Even though unit was repaired, I let them break lease and refunded their full security. They wanted additional $ for days they did not live there which my gracious $3000 should have covered. Judge did not see it that way. Her verdict, pay $3k+. So much for the review I read about her working for Farmer's Insurance previously and usually going with landlord over these disputes. Don't be fooled like I did. Long story short, I know if I was in front a fair judge like Judge Judy or Judge Millian, who takes the time to review her cases prior, It would've gone in a different way. She didn't see through their greediness. Have your facts ready. She doesn't have time for how you feel about this or that. Best of luck! read more

I am in the process of a most difficult and emotionally upsetting unlimited civil case filed at the Superior Court in Santa Monica, CA. As a plaintiff- who is still seeking and attorney. Thank heavens for the clerks of the court in the unlimited civil case department. They are incredibly helpful, empathetic ( yet neutral) and patient! Two of the staff that recently helped me are already promoted up and out! A testimony to their manager- NO DOUBT- Lynn Lane! And kudos also to Andrew!!!!! and Leslie! Thanks for all your help!!! Shaun Huttar read more

A Covid filled cesspool, run by idiots. In the middle of a Covid surge, security wasn't enforcing mask wearing at all. We even had a person who was very ill with Covid in our courtroom. She had tried to call the emergency number and tell them that she was Covid positive, and nobody would answer or get back to her, forcing her to show up and expose the entire courthouse. Hopefully my next case is a lawsuit against the employees here. They are a public health hazard. read more

Very pleasant experience. I came here today to support a friend with a case in small claims court. I felt everything was well organized and easy to navigate with this process. I took the Expo line to get here, all the way to final stop in downtown Santa Monica. The courthouse was a quick 5 minute walk from the station so I highly recommend this route. There is a parking lot nearby if you are driving. The courthouse opens at 8am you have to go through security first, which is quick. Take off your belt and empty your pockets and place your belongings in a tray. There is an information desk that can direct you to your designated room. Once we found our room, all the cases being seen that day are posted outside the door and you can see what your number is. Plenty of restrooms nearby. Around 8:30, the courtroom opened, we were told no food or drink (except for water) was allowed in, and cell phones must be turned off. Everyone entered and sat down. There was a full house and a lot of people to be seen. Roll call was taken. Then the judge came out and explained in detail how small claims court works and the options. There were mediators there (free of charge) to help reach a resolution too. My friend used one of the mediators and was able to reach a resolution and we were done and out of the courthouse by 11:30. So we walked to the beach because Santa Monica Pier is only a few blocks away. read more

I arrived on a Wednesday morning fearing long lines and delays. The guard and woman scanning my items in the metal scanner kindly directed me to the clerk's office. I was delighted to find myself the only person in line. Marc Young, the gentleman behind the desk, made the filing of my paperwork a breeze. He reviewed my forms and noticed a missing page, which he generously printed out and informed me how to complete. He provided me with stamped copies, explained where to go for my hearing and how long the process typically takes. He was courteous, professional and knowledgeable. I was out the door in 30 minutes. I docked one star because very few employees were wearing masks. With Covid infection cases and death rates rising, that struck me as surprisingly irresponsible. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing jury duty at this location. I parked at Santa Monica Place (first 90 minutes free) and enjoyed the 6-minute walk by Tongva Park to the courthouse. read more

Called today to let the traffic division know that I keep receiving someone else's citation in the mail. The woman that answered was incredibly rude right from the start and said "we don't fix problems" I asked her if she would like to have the citation number and make a notion that this person is likely not receiving their mail due to an incorrect address. She had no interest whatsoever in doing anything to try to rectify the matter. Now maybe there was really nothing she could do but she was so nasty the entire time she was talking to me when I was just trying to explain the situation and help this person out. read more

Bad courthouse with poor knowledge of attorneys & judges & also bad parole & probation office

Attention Jurors: be advised ...No temp checks at door No social distancing possible Waiting in narrow corridor near bathrooms With 50 people Only two single unisex restrooms available No hand sanitizer People coughing in line Complete disregard for jurors safety. Serve elsewhere if you can. read more

Attn: all jurors: Regarding this courthouse, there is no checking for negative covid test, or your covid vaccine record. Masks are *optional* and probably only 1/3 of the jury pool wears a mask. There is a large outdoor patio where you can wait. I would rather drive downtown to a court that honors LA County rules than put myself at risk in very close quarters for hours at a time with people - esp since the new variant is on the rise. read more

My experience with this place was actually pretty good. I came in one day as an observer, just to see how the whole process works. Mostly just enjoying the morning. Judge Swift, Room E 111. He is pretty fair, and does have a calming personality about him. He is straightforward as well when you first sit in front of him, pointing out that he will hear both sides equally, and does give a good explanation about other options, if those options are available to you. In particular, the day I was there, I noticed that he does have a good way of explaining things to you that are not condescending or with any angst or anger. A lot of the cases that were on the docket this particular day, the petitioners never showed up. So most of the cases were dismissed. In one particular case, the petitioner didn't show, but the respondent had an attorney who was trying to collect, and was granted legal fees because of all the runaround the petitioner put that person through. My best advice if you're going to court, no matter what the issue is, make sure you have good evidence. Judge Swift even asked a couple of the people involved in the cases if they had a witness, or a co-worker, or a neighbor who might have seen what happened. About the process, it's not like Judge Judy at all. Lol. The petitioner goes first, usually has around 7 minutes or so to state what happened. Then Judge Swift will look at your evidence. Then, the responded has a chance to respond for about 7 or 8 minutes or so. Then there's about another three or four minutes of the judge trying to give you options, asking both sides if there is any more evidence, etc. There's usually about another 3 minutes or so of back and forth, where the judge might have had a specific question about a certain piece of evidence. The whole time you're in front of the judge either pleading your case, or defending yourself is no more than about 30 minutes. In cases where the petitioner didn't show, usually the respondent was done within 3 to 5 minutes. As the petitioner, you do have the burden of proof, and proving that what you're asking for is current, ongoing, etc. It can't just be a one-time incident. And Judge Swift was very articulate and down to earth in how he was able to rule either in your favor, or against it. I hope I never personally have to go to court, but if I had to see this judge, I'd feel a little more comfortable knowing that my side and evidence would be heard. I'm not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. But, there are a number of free services that are available to you that you'll have to explore more when you visit the courthouse. Try to go on a day prior to your actual Court date. Things like mediation might be able to help your specific situation. Parking: Make sure to get there early. There is a outdoor parking lot on ground level immediately to the east of the building, with a kiosk and parking spaces that are numbered. Just make sure which number you're in, and use your credit card to pay . I believe it was $1.50 per hour, with the maximum of $7.50. Morning: Not the crazy long lines like at the Van Nuys Courthouse, but there is a line. You will go through a metal detector, make sure to leave everything in the baskets that go through the x-ray machine, even your belt, and anything remotely metal. Be nice to the Sheriff's that are working the X-ray machine and the whole process of getting into the building. They're just there for your safety, and they want to go home at the end of the day as well. Bathrooms? Very well kept I must say. And they are clean. read more

I am filing a written, formal complaint for the first time in my life. I turned up to pay a traffic ticket and left with my jaw the in the floor. The way the lady at the ticket office responded was just terrible. It's hard to believe that she has received any training whatsoever. I followed up yesterday with a phone call after a friend of mine that actually used to serve with SMPD told me I should follow it up just in case (they couldn't accept payment as had no record of the ticket) and the same woman answered. I couldn't believe it, she just took a position straight off the bat that I was some type of lesser human. She berated me for not listening to her answer the day before, she also stated in the most condescending tone "well it you have buddies here then you already know everything". My jaw was on the floor and I asked the speak to somebody else but she just carried on shouting over me and then she hung up. After that I called again to file a grievance but ended up talking with another employee who was the total opposite. He answered and dealt with me professionally. Anyway, I am following this up with an official written grievance, as is my right, as this was just completely unacceptable. They are required by law to respond and if they do not then I will be writing to the City Mayor and local Senator. Completely shocking that this type of incompetence happens in a government courthouse!!! read more

Had to do my son name change at the legal aid, the process was so easy with the help of women who work there, and it was a quick.

Had to be in court two days in a row. It was sorta hot inside. The clerks and bailiffs are always super nice, but they expect everyone to follow procedures. Don't be late, or they may not take you that day. If you had an insurance or registration violation, bring your paperwork and the violations will be dismissed with a small fee. If you got a ticket for broken tailights, etc (fixit tickets), be sure to have the sheriff's station or hwy patrol sign off on the violation and then bring the signoff to court and the violation will be dismissed with a small fine. This is an old courthouse and the old parts of it are rather dingy. The bathrooms are yucky. But that's government for ya. The new parking structure was almost completely full, as was the outside lot. Sheesh... so many people jammed into the courthouse. read more

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I have only stepped in this courtroom for the first time and have not yet been in the Small Claims Division to see how it is run. I will update my rating later. I like the large parking lot that is open and I like that I did not have to pay for parking for a short drop off of papers at the Clerks office. In contrast, the Inglewood Courthouse you pay $8.00 if you stay for one minute or the whole day? The courthouse is a little bit hard to locate if you don't live in Santa Monica. It is tucked away. So, make sure you know exactly how you get to the Courthouse and keep your gps working. :) It was a large roomy courthouse with large and long hallways that I liked. It was also very clean which I like. Thank you. read more

***Jury duty parking was poorly described since Gmap can't really tell you where is the entrance. They should have a big sign like DT courthouse. I live here in SM and I got lost. Took me 30 minute or more to find the entrance. The entrance is on 4th street side in the alley. Not the Olympic. *** read more

What a shit show. Luckily I've never had to step in court before. I came to get information to file a case, the clerks are sooooooo rude. They're also not doing anything but chitchatting with each other but act like they're working in the White house. Obviously IT IS your job to answer questions and try to help people when obviously they're not familiar with the forms or court process.... WOW. They're also so slow that the process takes forever. If you don't like dealing with people then don't work as a customer service clerk. The phone number provided for this court have no clerk or live person to talk to even when you call between the 2 hour window provided. Called 20 times and its just a recording , so lame. Parking is street meter or there is a lot next to the court. read more

They never answer their phone Good luck if you need any help Self help office is filled with not knowledgeable people who do not keep the office hours they post nor know what they are doing. Went there 6 times they were either not there or they did not know what to do. Went to downtown and got it done the same day. read more

3-stars is a pretty darn good rating for a courthouse. Getting a red-light camera ticket has placed me at this courthouse. I would have to say based on my past experiences with other courthouses, this one in particular has to be the best one I've ever been at. PROS - located on Main street SM, I feel relatively safe and not constantly have to look over my shoulder walking to and from the courthouse. - generally the staff that works there are nice and the gentleman that worked as a clerk was especially helpful to me. - my case was assigned to Judge James K. Hahn, he was probably one of the most personable, patient, nice and understanding judges that I've come acrossed with. -generally I'm happy with the ruling based on the advise the clerk gave me (I plead guilty with community service). The judge was kind and did not require those who requested community service to prove that they can't afford the penalty. CONS -2 hour metered parking is right upfront but starts at 9am (my appt time was 8:30 am). They will let you run back out to feed the meter but it's inconvenient. -paid parking is next to the courthouse at $1.20/hour or $9 daily maximum. I was at the courthouse for 2 hours and paid $9. BUT at least I didn't have to walk a mile. -I've been to this courthouse twice but I had a hard time finding it the first time (there are similar buildings all around it). It was a learning process and I thought it was pretty interesting how the system operated. I'm just grateful I didn't have to pay $480 for getting caught on camera while turning right on a red light. I used to think community service meant picking up trash on the side of the street. But now they're offering so many charitable volunteering programs across the city and I feel good about participating (i.e. meeting new people and helping out the community). read more

This is a preliminary review, as I have not stepped inside this courthouse. I've been tangled in confusion regarding jury service. However once I finally tracked down the correct number - 310-255-1961 (M-F, 11-12 and 2-4) I was relieved to find an oasis of clarity, courtesy, and even some chuckles with a woman named Julia. How I lucked out! She couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. She suggested I post the above number. If you call it with questions, you can ask for her. Thank you, thank you, Julia! read more

Apparently the ticket process has changed... But staff rudeness has not! Now when you receive a ticket you can contest the ticket only AFTER sending a check with the bail, and the words "not guilty" on it. It was denounced to me (see attached picture) that the check I sent would be cashed BEFORE my trial/arraignment. I call to ask for an explanation and the woman that answered the phone was so incredibly rude that I came on here to quote her, "I wouldn't send a check if I didn't know what it was for", "did no one explain this to you", "well, I wouldn't send a check if I didn't know what it was for". She kept repeating the same phrases with such attitude in her voice; she was talking down to me. I still, trying to make amends, explain to her that on the letter I received (see photo), I was not given any other option. She proceeded to say, "well didn't any one explain it to you". I told her, "THAT'S WHY IM CALLING". After I said that, she literally says, "is there anything else I can help you with?" It was the most pointless call, not only did she make me feel like an idiot, she did not explain the process to me/educate me. I am back to square one. read more

Santa Monica Courthouse - Courthouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Jury summons instructions say to park in the structure on Avenida Mazatlan. I arrive at 7:35 and this structure is full, even though it says 502 spaces available. I drove all the way to the top along with lines of other people expecting to find available spaces. There were perhaps 50 - 100 wasted electric car spaces that were empty, all as part of the city's ridiculous climate change hysteria. Then I drive to see if I can park in the outdoor lot. Completely closed down and full of construction crews! So essentially there is NO parking at the Santa Monica Courthouse. Wonderful! Next, I drive to the lot at Colorado and Main / 2nd street. Along the way, as yet another symbol of the city's climaphobia, traffic is backed up because a car lane on Colorado has literally been permanently turned into a bicycle lane (that nobody was using). This MUST be Mike Bonin's district! I parked in the structure at Colorado and Main / 2nd only to later find out that the court's validation cards will NOT pay for parking in this structure! So, essentially I had to pay $20 to appear for jury duty on my first day. Thank you for your service! Meanwhile, lawyers are earning $500 an hour, judges are making $230,000 per year, and expert witnesses are making $2,000 a day, etc. The "approved parking structures" are structures 5 and 6, which are about 0.6 miles away (past Broadway). So allow for an extra 10 minutes to walk to court. Enjoy walking amongst some crazy homeless people along the way. I'll give this court 1 star for having short lines to get through security. By comparison, I had to wait 15 minutes at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Also, the courthouse is rather small. And Judge Horn seems to be very reasonable with jurors. I've seen some ass***e judges before. read more

I was strongly advised by a lawyer who "is at this courthouse everyday for years" just go ahead and plead No Contest when you stand in front of Commissioner #PamelaDavis because she will not care if you are innocent or guilty as charged....you're going down either way and that she will side with the officers every time, all of whom she knows and deals with regularly....and that was exactly how it went for each and every person that I witnessed...including myself. She got annoyed at me within 3 syllables and denied my "No Contest" plea and forced me to go to trial...which of course the officer won. LOL!!! they treat traffic violations as if you're a felon LOL!! Ridiculous courthouse, Zombie commissioner....as if she's not human...maybe time to retire, woman! read more

This is review is for jury duty. I have to say I was so happy when I found out I was assigned to the Santa Monica Courthouse and not downtown. The Jury Assembly Room here is very nice and seems like it has been updated especially when compared to the rest of the courthouse. There are little individual what cubbies with outlets for those with laptops or phones. There are open table seating and couches. They have a vending machine, a refrigerator and a balcony for some fresh air. There are also bathrooms which were clean. The person assisting everyone is very clear and concise. And we got about a 2 hour lunch break. Since the Courthouse is right by the ocean and Third Street there were plenty of places to go eat. I went on a Wednesday so I even did a little shopping at the farmer's market. Overall a pretty good experience. read more

I just served jury duty here. Building seemed a little run down when walking in, but once I made it to the 3rd floor juror room, I was pretty impressed. The juror room was like a library or cafe. It was well lit and had couches to lounge in and carrels with outlets for you to work on your laptop. The room also had men's and women's bathrooms and vending machines. And if you didn't want to use a mobile hot spot, you could use their wi-fi. When it came time for the orientation, a movie screen dropped down from the ceiling and the orientation was projected onto it. Unlike other places where they play the orientation on little TVs they roll out on carts, you could actually see and hear the orientation from anywhere in the room. The only pains were getting through security and waiting outside the court room to be called in. It was raining and cold the day I served and the wait area outside the court room I was assigned was an outdoor patio (with awning). Not terrible, just not comfortable. I would be happy to serve here again. read more

No complaints from me, everyone was nice and accommodating, even the judge who gave me my fine. At least she was nice about it lol

This is my favorite courthouse in town. If you're going to serve this is the best place to do it. My only disclaimer is the types of cases they try here. All civil, nothing criminal so if you want to tour the defense area you can't just get arrested for something serious like other courthouses. Regardless, the judges and stenographers at this location are well worth the effort and the jurors they pick love to small talk about stuff during breaks. Top class across the board. read more

Fast, easy and safe. I went to court to change my name and everything was so efficient. Great covid experience.