The Orange County Veterans Treatment Court, which is convened at the Community Court in Santa Ana, has been designated a Mentor Court, one of only four in the country. The Veterans Treatment Court, which is under the direction of Superior Court Judge Joe Perez, is an intensive therapeutic program designed to treat military service veterans who are involved in the criminal justice system, and who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance addiction, or other psychological problems arising from their military service. Since its inception in 2008, 53 participants have graduated and only 6 have been re-arrested; and more than 11,700 jail bed days have been saved, for a cost savings of more than $465,000.

As a Mentor Court, the Veterans Treatment Court will offer guidance and training to court administrators and justice partners from other states interested in establishing Veterans Courts in their own jurisdictions. On Tuesday, March 18, a ceremony will be held at the Community Court at which Melissa Fitzgerald, the Senior Director of Justice for Vets, will present the Mentor Court plaque to Judge Joe Perez and the Veterans Treatment Court team.

For more information about this honor, read the news release here: http://bit.ly/1gjojgT.

The Self-Help Services website now has an interactive Self-Help Small Claims Online Interview available. The online interview is a free screening tool that self-represented litigants can use to quickly access specific information for their legal problem. The online interview is provided as a public service and is created as a self-guiding tool to services, resources, and options for help with a legal matter. It is not a tool that provides legal advice.

Based on the interviewees’ responses, the online interview produces a summary of information that can include court procedures, forms, and service referrals which may take the place of litigation. The online interview provides links to many alternative services.

The DUI Court at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach has been selected as one of four National Academy Courts by the National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC). The DUI Court, which is under the direction of Superior Court Judge Matthew Anderson, is an intensive, empirically based program designed to treat hard-core repeat DUI offenders. Based on the Drug Court model, the DUI Court is a collaboration of the Superior Court, the Probation Department, the Health Care Agency, and the offices of the District Attorney and Public Defender.

“We are honored to be selected as a National Academy Court where we have the opportunity to help improve and expand DUI Court programs throughout the country. The work we are doing in Orange County is reducing impaired driving, increasing community safety, and effectively using court resources,” said Judge Anderson. On Tuesday, March 18, a ceremony will be held at the Harbor Justice Center at which Judge Michael Kavanaugh (retired), Director of the NCDC, will present the Academy Court award to Judge Anderson and the DUI Court team.

For more information about this honor, read the news release here: http://bit.ly/1nzUnl4.

On January 2, 2014, the Court begins a six-month transition toward exclusive use of electronic documents in criminal cases. The court will no longer create paper files for newly filed cases. Instead, all newly filed cases will be stored and accessed electronically. We will begin the process of converting older cases as well. It is the Court’s intent to have all criminal records with a court appearance converted to an electronic file by July 1, 2014. For more information on public case access click here.

Effective January 1, 2013, pursuant to amendments to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and Orange County Superior Court Rule 352, all documents filed in limited, unlimited, and complex civil actions must be filed electronically unless the Court rules otherwise.
Commencing January 14, 2013, electronically filed documents subject to the mandatory electronic filing requirements in civil limited, unlimited, and complex actions can be filed until midnight on the day that the filing is due, and will be considered timely pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 subdivision (d)(1)(D). The document is “filed” at the date and time it is received by the court and the confirmation of receipt is created. See Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 2.259(a)(1). Any electronically filed document received by the Court on or after midnight will be file stamped on the next court day.

Self-Help Center Computer Lab is now open at West Justice Center The computer lab is open Tuesdays from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm on a drop-in basis for help with e-filing, SmartForms, and on-line document preparation.
Tuesday mornings from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Self-Help Services will be offering a first-come first-serve Divorce Clinic for Computer Users. This clinic will provide an overview of the divorce procedure and legal terms. Attendees will use SmartForms to complete and submit their case documents. See Self-Help workshops for additional information.

Commencing on September 17, 2012, and pursuant to Assembly Bill 1481, the process for collection of advance jury fees in civil actions has been updated. Click here  for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Family Law Fillable Forms Can Be Filed With The Court Electronically at No Additional Cost.
Start or respond to a divorce, legal separation, nullity or paternity case with easy to use, fillable, “SmartForms” that can be completed and submitted to the Court 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any computer that has access to the Internet.

Click here to begin

Electronic Filing system (eFiling) and Electronic Service (eService).
24 hours/day, 7 days/week click here. Frequently asked questions can be accessed here.

New interactive electronic forms make it easier & more efficient to file with the court. Read More.
To view our current set of SmartForms please click here.

The Superior Court of California, County of Orange is holding money in its Trial Court Operations Fund. If you believe that you are entitled to claim any of the unclaimed funds, please file a Claim for Ownership of Funds  form and all supporting documents that you believe will assist the Court in determining the lawful owner.

The records of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange indicate that a trust fund has money eligible for distribution. These funds were deposited for an arbitration hearing between February 2007 to June 2008. If you believe that you are entitled to claim any of the civil deposits paid to the Court, please file an Arbitrator’s Fee Statement L-0190  form.

Effective July 3, 2012, night court will be reduced from two nights per month at each Justice Center to one night per month. Click here for more information. Traffic night court is available on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

The Superior Court of Orange County is proud to present the Fiscal Year 2013-14 Approved Budget and the Fiscal Year 2013-14 Budget at a Glance. The approved budget summarizes the Court's operating budget, provides detailed expenditure budget information for each cost center, and includes other summarized information that might be useful to Court staff and the general public. The Budget at a Glance is designed to be a two-sided tri-fold pamphlet providing high-level budget information.
(Please click on Approved Budget, Fiscal Year 2013-14 or Budget At A Glance, Fiscal Year 2013-14 to open the document)

The Superior Court of Orange County is proud to offer a new online service, Reserve a Motion Date. Parties can now reserve law & motion matters online through our Online Services link.

For more information on the program click here.

Effective July 1st, infractions with a Civil Assessment will only be heard at North Justice Center (excluding court trials). For more information click here.

Due to the financial constraints imposed by the California state fiscal crisis, as well as the repeated decreases in state court funding, the Orange County Superior Court will no longer be able to staff the Criminal and Traffic Call Center; therefore, no customer service agents will be able to assist you. Most inquiries from the public can be resolved by calling our automated phone system (877) 872-2122 and payments can be made at the following link: Criminal-Traffic Payments.