Jose Mier, Sun Valley man about town, is interested in the Los Angeles Superior Court system. There are a few Superior Court locations in the Valley (near-ish to Sun Valley) but on top of that, there are many courthouses throughout Los Angeles that readers may not know about.
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County—commonly referred to as the Los Angeles Superior Court—is the largest unified trial court in the United States. Serving a population approaching 10 million across 88 cities and numerous unincorporated areas, it processes approximately 2.7 million new cases each year, spanning civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, mental health, traffic, and small claims matters.
History and Organization
Established following California’s 1850 constitution which created a statewide superior court system, the modern LA Superior Court has evolved through consolidation—from separate municipal and county courts to a single, unified system in the 1990s. Governed by the Presiding Judge, currently Sergio C. Tapia II, and administrative leadership such as Executive Officer/Clerk David W. Slayton, the Court oversees nearly 600 courtrooms and a workforce of about 4,800 employees.
Jurisdiction and Case Types
The Court’s jurisdiction extends across Los Angeles County’s expansive 4,084-square-mile territory. Handling over 500,000 criminal matters, 1.7 million traffic citations, 120,000 family law cases, and 150,000 civil lawsuits annually, it reflects the county’s diversity—offering interpreter services in more than 200 languages.
Court Infrastructure
To serve varied local needs, the Court operates 36 courthouses, divided across 12 judicial districts. This network includes general session courthouses and specialist facilities for juvenile justice, mental health, juvenile dependency, and arraignment.
Major Downtown (Central) Sites
- Stanley Mosk Courthouse (111 N. Hill St.): The central civil/family hub with 100 courtrooms—the largest courthouse nationwide.
- Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center (210 W. Temple St.): The primary criminal venue, named after California’s first female lawyer and public defender.
- Spring Street Courthouse (312 N. Spring St.): Historic Moderne-style building now handling civil matters; its grandeur dates back to 1940.
- Central Arraignment Court, Central Civil West Courthouse, Metropolitan Courthouse, among others serving various case types.
General Courthouse Locations
The Superior Court comprises neighborhood courthouses in key regions:
- Antelope Valley: Michael D. Antonovich Courthouse (Lancaster)
- San Fernando Valley: Chatsworth, Van Nuys East & West, San Fernando
- Westside/South Bay: Airport, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Malibu, Torrance, Redondo Beach
- Pasadena/East San Gabriel Valley: Alhambra, Pasadena, El Monte
- Northeast/Southeast LA: East LA, Compton, Bellflower, Norwalk, Huntington Park, Whittier, Inglewood
- South Bay Coastal: Inglewood, Torrance, Redondo Beach
- Pomona & Surroundings: Pomona North & South
- Santa Clarita Valley: Santa Clarita Courthouse
- Glendale
Specialty Courts
These tailor to specific case types:
- Juvenile Justice: Alfred J. McCourtney (Lancaster), David V. Kenyon, Los Padrinos (Downey), Sylmar, Inglewood, Eastlake Juvenile courts.
- Juvenile Dependency: Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court (Monterey Park).
- Mental Health Courthouse
- Central Arraignment and Civil West
Operations & Services
Staffing & Budget
The Court employs approximately 583 judicial officers and 4,800 staff, maintaining an annual budget of over $1 billion.Efficient operations span courtroom management to technological and clerical support.
Case Management & Technology
Leveraging the California Court Case Management System (CCMS v3), the Court provides services like Criminal Defendant Index, civil document images, traffic ticket services, small claims e-filing, and divorce judgment documents.
It also launched LACourtConnect, enabling virtual hearings and remote services—evolving further following the July 2024 ransomware attack, which disrupted e-filing but was mitigated swiftl..
Language Access & Self‑Help
Recognizing its diverse clientele, the Court offers interpreters in over 200 languages and maintains 13 Self‑Help Centers to guide pro se litigants.
Security & Courtroom Protocols
Enhanced security includes screening stations and restricted public access at high-profile courtrooms like Foltz CJ Center. Standard prohibitions on weapons, devices, and other items apply..
Challenges & Innovations
Budget Constraints & Staffing
Facing state budget cuts in FY 2024–25, the Court initiated a voluntary separation program, offering staff buyouts—indicating projected delays in services such as document processing and call-center response.
Technological Resilience
Though the 2024 ransomware attack temporarily disrupted operations, rapid response and system isolation allowed most public-facing services to resume within a week.
Operational Adaptation
To cut costs, the Court has replaced some courtroom stenographers with electronic digital recordings—a controversial but budget-driven measure.
Full List of LA Superior Court Locations
(All locations mention case types: CIV = Civil, CRM = Criminal, FL = Family Law, TR = Traffic, SMCL = Small Claims, JVJUS/JVDEP = Juvenile Justice/Dependency, MH = Mental Health, PRB = Probate, AP = Appellate)
- Airport Courthouse – 11701 S. La Cienega Blvd, L.A., CA 90045 (CRM)
- Alhambra Courthouse – 150 W. Commonwealth Ave, Alhambra, CA 91801 (CIV, CRM)
- Bellflower Courthouse – 10025 E. Flower St, Bellflower, CA 90706 (CRM, SMCL, TR)
- Beverly Hills Courthouse – 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (CIV, SMCL, TR)
- Burbank Courthouse – 300 E. Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91502 (CIV, CRM, TR)
- Catalina Courthouse – 215 Sumner Ave, Avalon, CA 90704 (CRM)
- Chatsworth Courthouse – 9425 Penfield Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311 (CIV, FL, SMCL, TR)
- Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center – 210 W. Temple St, L.A., CA 90012 (CRM)
- Compton Courthouse – 200 W. Compton Blvd, Compton, CA 90220 (CIV, CRM, FL, JVDEP, JVJUS, SMCL, TR)
- Downey Courthouse – 7500 E. Imperial Hwy, Downey, CA 90242 (CRM, TR)
- East Los Angeles Courthouse – 4848 E. Civic Center Way, L.A., CA 90022 (JVJUS)
- El Monte Courthouse – 11234 E. Valley Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731 (CRM, TR)
- Glendale Courthouse – 600 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206 (CIV, CRM, TR)
- Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse – 275 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802 (CIV, CRM, FL, JVJUS, SMCL, TR)
- Hollywood Courthouse – 5925 Hollywood Blvd, L.A., CA 90028 (MH)
- Huntington Park Courthouse – 6548 Miles Ave, Huntington Park, CA 90255 (CRM)
- Inglewood Courthouse – 1 Regent St, Inglewood, CA 90301 (CIV, CRM, SMCL, TR)
- Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse – 110 Regent St, Inglewood, CA 90301 (JVJUS)
- Metropolitan Courthouse – 1945 S. Hill St, L.A., CA 90007 (CIV, CRM, FL, TR)
- Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse – 42011 4th St W, Lancaster, CA 93534 (CIV, CRM, FL, JVJUS, PRB, SMCL, TR)
- Norwalk Courthouse – 12720 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650 (CIV, CRM, MH)
- Pasadena Courthouse – 300 E. Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101 (CIV, CRM, FL, SMCL, TR)
- Pomona Courthouse North – (north address), and Pomona Courthouse South – 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 (CIV, CRM, FL, JVDEP, JVJUS)
- Redondo Beach Courthouse – 117 W. Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (CIV, CRM, SMCL, TR)
- San Fernando Courthouse – 900 3rd St, San Fernando, CA 91340 (CRM)
- San Pedro Courthouse – 505 S. Centre St, San Pedro, CA 90731 (CIV, CRM, TR), and Annex – 638 S. Beacon St (CIV)
- Santa Clarita Courthouse – 23747 W. Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 (CRM, TR)
- Santa Monica Courthouse – 1725 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (CIV, FL, SMCL, TR)
- Stanley Mosk Courthouse – 111 N. Hill St, L.A., CA 90012 (AP, CIV, FL, PRB, SMCL)
- Torrance Courthouse – 825 Maple Ave, Torrance, CA 90503 (CIV, CRM, FL, TR)
- Van Nuys Courthouse East – 6230 Sylmar Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91401 (CIV, FL, SMCL)
- Van Nuys Courthouse West – 14400 Erwin St Mall, Van Nuys, CA 91401 (CRM, TR)
- West Covina Courthouse – 1427 W. Covina Pkwy, West Covina, CA 91790 (CIV, CRM, SMCL, TR)
- West Los Angeles Courthouse – 1633 Purdue Ave, L.A., CA 90025 (CIV, CRM, SMCL, TR)
- Whittier Courthouse – 7339 S. Painter Ave, Whittier, CA 90602 (FL)
- Additional specialty sites such as the Alfred J. McCourtney, Eastlake, Los Padrinos, Edmund D. Edelman, and Sylmar juvenile courts
Strengths, Challenges & Future Outlook
Strengths
- Size & Reach: As the nation’s largest trial court, it ensures local access across urban to rural areas.
- Service Diversity: Specialized courthouses handle family law, juvenile, mental health, and criminal cases.
- Digital Tools: CCMS, LACourtConnect, and remote filing support greater public access .
- Language Inclusion: Offering interpreters in over 200 languages serves a multicultural population .
- Crisis Resilience: Demonstrated recovery from ransomware and budget shocks.
Challenges
- Budget Reductions: Staff cuts hinder timely case processing and customer service .
- Tech Trade-offs: Electronic recordings replace some stenographers—raising concerns over quality .
- Operational Strain: Downtown courthouses see overcrowded dockets and security pressures.
- Digital Equity: While online tools expand access, they also risk leaving behind those without adequate technology.
The Road Ahead
The Court aims to stabilize post-budget reductions, retain and invest in staff, fully restore digital capabilities, and explore hybrid court operations combining in-person and remote services. Anticipated infrastructure updates and seismic retrofits—such as the Stanley Mosk improvements—will modernize and fortify facilities .
In Summary
The Los Angeles Superior Court System is a sprawling, multifaceted institution central to California’s justice delivery. From its historic courthouses in Downtown LA, like Stanley Mosk and Foltz Center, to community-run magistrates in Antelope Valley and the San Gabriel region, it supports millions in legal matters everyday. Despite recent financial and technological challenges, the Court remains committed to providing fair, efficient access to justice—anchored by a vast infrastructure, substantial staff, and continuing modernization transforming both physical and virtual courts.
Whether you’re pursuing a civil dispute, attending a hearing, or seeking family assistance, chances are there’s a Superior Court location nearby. The Court’s evolving services—interpreters, self-help centers, online portals, remote hearings—underscore its mission: accessible justice for all in one of America’s most dynamic—and diverse—counties.