Los Angeles County Superior Court
Santa Monica Courthouse
A complete criminal-defense guide to Santa Monica Courthouse — hours, divisions, parking, what to expect at your appearance, and how Daniel S. Rubin of Rubin Law, P.C. defends cases filed here. Call (213) 723-2337 for a free consultation, 24/7.
Courthouse At a Glance
Everything you need before your appearance
About This Courthouse
About Santa Monica Courthouse
The Santa Monica Courthouse is the primary criminal court for the Westside, hearing felony, misdemeanor, DUI, traffic, and domestic violence cases from Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Venice, Mar Vista, Westwood, Bel Air, and Marina del Rey. Santa Monica PD, Culver City PD, LAPD West LA and Pacific divisions, and the LA County Sheriff's Malibu/Lost Hills Station file the majority of cases here. DUI arrests from PCH and the 10 freeway, retail-theft cases from the Third Street Promenade, and beach-related misdemeanors dominate the calendar.
As part of the Los Angeles County Superior Court system, Santa Monica Courthouse operates under California law and the LA Superior Court's local rules. Cases here are prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney (felonies and county misdemeanors) or the Santa Monica branch of the City Attorney (city-code misdemeanors). Every case follows the same core sequence — arraignment, pretrial or preliminary hearing, motions, and either negotiated resolution or trial.
Knowing this courthouse — its judges, its DAs, its filing habits — is a concrete advantage. Daniel S. Rubin appears at Santa Monica Courthouse regularly and knows how cases actually move through this specific building.
Hours & Visitor Info
Before You Visit Santa Monica Courthouse
Plan around the courthouse's operating hours, holiday closures, and security screening. Missing calendar call can result in a bench warrant — arrive early and prepared.
Regular Business Hours
| Department | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk's Office | Mon – Fri | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Courtroom Calendars | Mon – Fri | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Criminal Filings | Mon – Fri | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Traffic Window | Mon – Fri | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Civil / Small Claims | Mon – Fri | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
Weekend & Holiday Closures
Closed weekends and all court-observed holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents' Day
- César Chávez Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day & the following Friday
- Christmas Day
If a holiday falls on a weekend, the courthouse observes the closure on the nearest weekday.
Arrive 30–45 minutes early
Security screening lines back up before 8:30 AM. Late arrivals can miss calendar call and be marked as a failure to appear.
Bring valid photo ID
A driver's license, state ID, or passport is required. Bring your citation, release paperwork, and any court notices.
Dress appropriately
Business casual is expected in the courtroom. No hats, tank tops, shorts, or clothing with offensive graphics.
Leave weapons and vape pens at home
Sheriff's deputies screen everything. Prohibited items — including cannabis and pocket knives — will be confiscated.
Getting There
Directions, Parking & Transit
Parking around Santa Monica Courthouse fills quickly on hearing days. Here's what to expect for driving, transit, and rideshare drop-off.
Parking
Santa Monica Civic Center parking structure (adjacent, entrance on 4th St) — first 30 minutes free, then $1.50/hour, $16 daily max. Structures 7 and 8 on 4th St are one block away.
Overflow: nearby paid structures and metered street parking. Watch posted signs — enforcement is strict, and residential permit zones will tow.
Public Transit & Rideshare
Metro E (Expo) Line — Downtown Santa Monica Station (0.6 mi / 12-minute walk). Big Blue Bus routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 18, R7, R10 stop on Main St, Ocean Ave, and 4th St.
Uber and Lyft drop-off is typically permitted at the main entrance. Rideshare is often the fastest option if you're not carrying documents that require secure custody.
From Downtown Los Angeles
Take surface streets or the 101/110 freeways. Traffic peaks between 7:30–9:00 AM on weekdays — leave extra time.
From The Westside
The 10 East is the main corridor. Consider Metro to avoid the parking crunch on hearing days.
From The San Fernando Valley
Take the 101 or 405 South. Sepulveda Pass slows dramatically before 9:00 AM — Metro's Orange/G Line is a reliable alternative.
Departments & Case Types
Which Calendar Will Hear Your Case
Santa Monica Courthouse operates the following criminal calendars. Knowing which department your case is on tells you what to expect and who the players are.
Felony
Serious offenses punishable by state prison. Includes arraignment, bail review, preliminary hearing, and trial.
- Murder
- Robbery
- Sex crimes
- Major drug cases
Misdemeanor
Charges punishable by up to a year in county jail. Most cases resolve at arraignment or pretrial without trial.
- Petty theft
- Simple assault
- Trespassing
DUI
Dedicated DUI calendars handle first-time and repeat driving-under-the-influence charges under CVC 23152.
- First-offense DUI
- Repeat DUI
- DUI with injury
Traffic
Infractions, unlicensed driving, and traffic-related misdemeanors including driving on a suspended license.
- VC 14601 (suspended license)
- Reckless driving
- Hit and run
Domestic Violence
Restraining orders, PC 273.5 corporal injury, and PC 243(e)(1) domestic battery are calendared here.
- PC 273.5
- PC 243(e)(1)
- Criminal protective orders
Practice Areas
Charges Commonly Filed at Santa Monica Courthouse
Rubin Law, P.C. defends the full range of state charges filed here — from first-time misdemeanors to serious felonies. Below are the case types we handle most often at Santa Monica Courthouse, with the California code sections that drive charging and sentencing decisions.
VC 23152(a)/(b) — first offense, high-BAC, refusals, and felony DUI with injury.
HS 11350/11377 possession, sales, transportation, and PC 1000 diversion eligibility.
PC 273.5 and 243(e)(1) — protective orders, no-contact issues, and firearm bans.
PC 240 simple assault through PC 245 assault with a deadly weapon (strike exposure).
PC 242 battery, PC 243(d) with serious injury, and battery on a peace officer.
Strike offenses under PC 667.5(c) and 1192.7(c) — prison exposure and gang allegations.
PC 261, 288, 290 registration cases — investigations, pretext calls, and trial defense.
Fraud, embezzlement (PC 503), forgery, and identity theft (PC 530.5).
PC 187 murder, PC 192 manslaughter, and PC 189 special-circumstance allegations.
PC 211 robbery and PC 215 carjacking — strike offenses with mandatory prison exposure.
PC 1203.3 revocation hearings, new-case allegations, and reinstatement strategy.
Bench and arrest warrant recalls, walk-throughs, and PC 1043 appearances.
WIC 602 delinquency, informal supervision, and sealing under WIC 786.
PC 1203.4 dismissals, PC 17(b) felony reductions, and Prop 47 reclassifications.
Don't see your charge? Santa Monica Courthouse hears the full spectrum of California Penal, Health & Safety, and Vehicle Code violations. If you were cited, arrested, or notified of charges filed here, call (213) 723-2337 for a confidential case review — we'll tell you the likely department, the assigned DA unit, and what the first appearance will look like.
Your Court Appearance
What to Expect at Santa Monica Courthouse
Every criminal case in LA County moves through the same four stages. Here's what each one looks like — and where a defense attorney makes the biggest difference.
Arraignment
Your first appearance. The charges are read, a plea is entered, and the court sets bail or considers release on own recognizance. Having counsel here matters — a well-prepared bail argument can be the difference between going home and remaining in custody.
Bail Review & Custody Status
If bail is set, the defense can move for a bail reduction under PC 1275. For felonies, the court weighs public safety, flight risk, and community ties. We prepare a release plan the judge can actually approve.
Preliminary Hearing or Pretrial
Felonies get a preliminary hearing — the prosecution must show probable cause. Misdemeanors move through pretrial conferences and motion practice (PC 1538.5 suppression, Pitchess, discovery). Most cases resolve here.
Trial or Negotiated Disposition
If no acceptable resolution is reached, the case is set for jury trial. We push for dismissals, reductions to misdemeanors (PC 17(b)), diversion, or trial when the evidence is weak.
Local Advantage
How Daniel S. Rubin Defends Cases at Santa Monica Courthouse
Local knowledge isn't a marketing line — it's how cases get resolved. Here's what regular appearances at this courthouse translate into for our clients.
Knows the prosecutors
We know which DAs will negotiate diversion, which will fight every reduction, and how to frame a case so the right deputy signs off.
Familiar with the judges
Every judge has a different tolerance for motions, sentencing patterns, and pretrial release. We calibrate the strategy to the actual bench.
Local procedure
From bail packets to Pitchess motions, we know what this courthouse expects — filed the right way, on the right calendar.
Free Consultation · 24/7
Your case is at Santa Monica Courthouse. Let's talk today.
Daniel S. Rubin personally handles every consultation. No intake gauntlet — you talk to the attorney who will appear on your case.
Custody & Transfers
Nearby Jails & Holding Facilities
If a defendant is not released after arrest, they're typically held or transferred to one of the LA County facilities below. Custody status affects arraignment location and timing.
Santa Monica Police Department Jail
333 Olympic Dr, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Santa Monica PD booking. In-custody defendants are transferred to Twin Towers or CRDF within 24 hours of arrest.
LASD Malibu/Lost Hills Station
27050 Agoura Rd, Calabasas, CA 91301
LA County Sheriff's Malibu/Lost Hills Station handles Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and Hidden Hills bookings.
Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF)
11705 S Alameda St, Lynwood, CA 90262
LA County's women's jail. Female defendants in pretrial custody are housed here regardless of the arresting agency.
Service Areas
Cities Served by Santa Monica Courthouse
Brentwood
Criminal Defense Attorney
Century City
Criminal Defense Attorney
Culver City
Criminal Defense Attorney
Mar Vista
Criminal Defense Attorney
Palms
Criminal Defense Attorney
Santa Monica
Criminal Defense Attorney
Sawtelle
Criminal Defense Attorney
Topanga
Criminal Defense Attorney
Venice
Criminal Defense Attorney
Vista Del Mar
Criminal Defense Attorney
Westchester
Criminal Defense Attorney
Westwood
Criminal Defense Attorney
10 — FAQs
Santa Monica Courthouse — Frequently Asked
Where is Santa Monica Courthouse located?
Santa Monica Courthouse is located at 1725 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Main line: (310) 255-1800. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
What types of criminal cases are heard at Santa Monica Courthouse?
Santa Monica Courthouse handles felony, misdemeanor, dui, traffic, domestic violence matters filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney and City Attorney.
Where do I park at Santa Monica Courthouse?
Santa Monica Civic Center parking structure (adjacent, entrance on 4th St) — first 30 minutes free, then $1.50/hour, $16 daily max. Structures 7 and 8 on 4th St are one block away. Public transit: Metro E (Expo) Line — Downtown Santa Monica Station (0.6 mi / 12-minute walk). Big Blue Bus routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 18, R7, R10 stop on Main St, Ocean Ave, and 4th St.
How do I check my court date at Santa Monica Courthouse?
Court dates appear on your citation or release paperwork. You can also look up your case on the Los Angeles Superior Court's public case-access portal or call the courthouse clerk. If you're represented by Rubin Law, P.C., we track every calendar date for you.
What happens if I miss my court date?
The judge can issue a bench warrant and, for felonies, forfeit any bail posted. If you missed a date, call (213) 723-2337 immediately — we can often walk in the warrant and get you back on calendar without a new arrest.
What is the difference between an arraignment and a preliminary hearing?
The arraignment is where charges are formally read and a plea is entered. A preliminary hearing is only in felony cases — the prosecution must present enough evidence for a judge to hold you to answer for trial. Both are critical stages where an experienced defense attorney matters.
Does Santa Monica Courthouse hear federal cases?
No. Santa Monica Courthouse is part of the Los Angeles County Superior Court and handles state charges only. Federal cases are heard at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Do I need an attorney for my first appearance?
Yes. The arraignment sets the tone for the entire case — bail, custody status, and early negotiations all start here. Daniel S. Rubin appears regularly at Santa Monica Courthouse and can be in court on short notice. Call (213) 723-2337 for a free consultation.
LA County Court System
Other Los Angeles County Courthouses
Cases can be transferred, refiled, or move between branch and central courthouses. Explore other locations in the LA Superior Court system.
Available 24/7 — Free Consultation
Your Case Is at Santa Monica Courthouse. Call Now.
Rubin Law, P.C. knows this courthouse. Free consultation — available 24/7.