Superior Court: criminal division
According to the court, criminal cases are heard in the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose, at the Family Justice Center (Drug Court) and at the Palo Alto and South County courthouses.
Official source ↗Criminal defense · San Jose, Santa Clara County
Charged or cited in San Jose?
Most cases start downtown.
In Santa Clara County most criminal cases are heard at the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose, with other cases in Palo Alto and South County. First Call Defense connects you with an independent California-licensed criminal defense attorney who can review your situation and explain your options.
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What is local in San Jose
Courts and defenders in Santa Clara County
Superior Court: traffic division
The traffic division lists online payment, a virtual traffic counter, traffic school and the DMV's ability-to-pay tool for traffic fines.
Official source ↗Public Defender
The Santa Clara County Public Defender represents people who cannot afford a lawyer when the court appoints it.
Official source ↗District Attorney
The Santa Clara County District Attorney prosecutes felonies and misdemeanors in the county, including DUI cases from San Jose.
Official source ↗DMV Driver Safety
After a DUI arrest in Santa Clara County, the license case runs through the DMV's Driver Safety branch, not the court. The DMV handles many Driver Safety matters through its online case system and a statewide phone line, and hearings can be held by video or in person. Use the contact printed on your notice of suspension.
Official source ↗Where your case is heard
Your citation or release papers name the courthouse and the date of your first appearance. In Santa Clara County most criminal matters from San Jose go to the Hall of Justice downtown, while some cases are heard in Palo Alto or at the South County courthouse in Morgan Hill. Drug Court sits at the Family Justice Center. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge at the arraignment whether the Public Defender can be appointed.
For many misdemeanors a judge can offer diversion under Penal Code section 1001.95, and the court runs collaborative courts such as Drug Court. Whether an alternative is available depends on the charge, your record and the program's rules, so ask an attorney before you accept or decline any offer.
Traffic tickets and fines
For traffic matters the court offers online services and a virtual counter, so many questions can be handled without a trip to court. If paying the full fine is hard, the court links to a statewide tool for asking for a reduction based on ability to pay. Contesting a ticket, traffic school and a missed date each have their own rules. An attorney can weigh what a conviction would cost you in points and insurance before the due date.
This site is not an emergency line. If someone is in custody or has a court date tomorrow, contact the court, the public defender's office or a criminal defense attorney directly now.
Local information as of October 2026. Court locations, hours and local rules change; check the official source before you go.
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Leon E. Johnson
Managing Partner, Omnilex · San Francisco
First Call Defense is part of Omnilex. Leon leads Omnilex’s US business from San Francisco. He is a California attorney and spent about twelve years at Goodwin and Kirkland & Ellis before joining Omnilex.
Leon does not take on the individual matters that come through this site. Your matter is handled by the independent California attorney you choose to engage, who works in criminal defense law.
- Admitted in California since 2015 (State Bar #302786), also Utah; Texas inactive
- JD, Harvard Law School · BS Finance, Brigham Young University
- Speaks English, Spanish, Russian
You may still be wondering …
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Where is criminal court for San Jose?
Most criminal cases are heard at the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose, according to the court. Your papers name the exact courthouse, which may be Palo Alto or South County instead.
Can I ask for a lower traffic fine in Santa Clara County?
The court links to a statewide online tool where you can ask for a reduction based on your ability to pay. Whether a reduction is granted is up to the court.
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