What do the Midwest, a second-place design, and a balloonist have in common? They’re all part of the story of the original Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, California.
History
Many of Orange County’s original settlers were from the Midwest, so it’s not too surprising that architect C.L. Strange modeled his design for the building after the kind of courthouses found in Iowa. What is surprising is that Strange’s beautiful proposed courthouse design hadn’t been the one to win the competition in the first place.
Fortunately for Strange, the first-place winner was disqualified for bribery, and he got the contract anyway.
It only took 17 months to complete the gorgeous 30,000 square foot Romanesque Revival building… it was three stories of granite and Arizona red sandstone, and it was the most impressive building in Orange County at the time.
And that was just the beginning…
Right from the start, the Orange County Courthouse was a place where history, as well as justice, happened. After the original architect was disqualified for cheating his way to the top, a passing balloonist fell to his death in front of the 8,000 spectators gathered to watch the courthouse’s cornerstone being laid.
Tragedy would strike the Old Courthouse again in 1933, when the courthouse’s uniquely designed belltower collapsed in the Long Beach Earthquake. Rebuilding the tower was completed in 2000, and the courthouse was restored to its former glory.
The Orange County Courthouse oversaw a handful of landmark cases in California history…
- People vs. Termo Corporation (1933) ruled that the State of California was entitled to royalties for easements for offshore oil drilling.
- Irvine Co. vs. California Employment Commission (1941) ruled that all employees of a large farm enterprise were exempt from the Unemployment Insurance Act.
- Chimel v. California (1965) set new rules about search and arrest procedures, and was eventually heard by the United States Supreme Court.
Today, the Orange County Superior Court has facilities all over the County, and the Old Courthouse is a California State Historic Landmark which is open to the public. You can take a free tour through this amazing piece of Orange County history by appointment, Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Self-guided tours are also available if you prefer. Just call 714-973-6605 to schedule your tour.
From its single building to the current network of justice centers, The Orange County Superior Court system is a unified state trial court that hears all matters in seven different court classifications.
Information and Services
The Orange County Superior Court serves all areas of Orange County from Aliso Viejo to Yorba Linda.
Cases heard in Orange County Superior Court fall under the following classifications:
- Civil
- Small Claims
- Traffic and Criminal
- Family Law
- Family Court Services
- Juvenile Services
- Probate
- Mental Health
The Superior Court Main Information Line is (657) 622-6878 and will also give you what you need to know about:
- Probate Court Services
- Court Reporter
- Interpretive Services (CRIS)
- Jury Services
- Self-Help
- Court Administration
- Human Resources
You can also find any other number you need on the information line page, along with the addresses of the individual justice centers. Since not every center handles the same matters, make sure you read the Important to Know tips and call the information line if you have any questions.
Orange County Justice Centers
Orange County Justice Centers are ADA compliant for the comfort and convenience of patrons with disabilities. Please Note: Security measures at some courts do not permit recording devices.
Central Justice Center
700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
- Important to know: This facility handles traffic, minor offenses, criminal, unlimited civil, limited civil, small claims, probate/mental health matters, and Elder/Dependent Adult Restraining Orders.
Lamoreaux Justice Center
341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868-3205
- Important to Know: This center handles Juvenile, Family Law and Domestic Violence. The Lamoreaux Justice Center also houses a Self-Help Center, Family Court Services and the Office of the Family Law Facilitator.
- Please Note: Cameras and recording devices are not allowed into this Justice Center.
Harbor Justice Center
4601 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660-2595
- Important to Know: This facility handles traffic, minor offenses, criminal, civil, and small claims matters.
- Please Note: The Harbor Justice Center-Laguna Hills Facility will no longer file and hear civil and small claims matters effective July 1, 2013.
North Justice Center
1275 North Berkley Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832-1258
- Important to Know: This facility handles traffic, minor offenses, criminal, limited civil and small claims.
Superior Court Service Center
27573 Puerta Real, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
- Important to Know: Effective February 22, 2019, payments will be accepted at this location on Criminal/Traffic/Collections matters Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- No Drop Box/No Mail Accepted
- Please Note: This Justice Center is a FULL SECURITY facility. All persons entering the building will be required to pass through a weapons screening device and have all hand-carried objects x-rayed.
- Weapons of any type will not be permitted into the Justice Center. Items such as: knives, including pocket-knives, scissors, corkscrews, mace, pepper spray, knitting needles, etc., which may be deemed potentially offensive and dangerous by the Sheriff’s Department will not be allowed in the building.
West Justice Center
8141 13TH Street, Westminster, CA 92683-4593
- Important to Know: This facility handles traffic, minor offenses, and criminal cases.
Civil Complex Center
751 West Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
- Important to Know: This facility does not handle traffic matters.
- Please Note: This Justice Center is a
FULL SECURITY facility. All persons entering the building will be required to
pass through a weapons screening device and have all hand-carried objects
x-rayed.
- Weapons of any type will not be permitted into the Justice Center. Items such as: knives, including pocket-knives, scissors, corkscrews, mace, pepper spray, knitting needles, etc., which may be deemed potentially offensive and dangerous by the Sheriff’s Department will not be allowed in the building.
Need to know more? Here’s the latest:
- Orange County Superior Court Holiday Schedule
- Orange County Superior Court Phone Numbers
- Orange County Superior Court Juror Parking and Maps (downloadable PDF)
- Orange County Superior Court Designation List (downloadable PDF)
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| Orange County Guide | Orange County Maps |
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| Historic Sites In Orange County | Orange County Zip Codes |
