The Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta
The Southwest Justice Center hears the following types of cases:
- Criminal
- Traffic
- Unlimited Civil
- Small Claims
- Evictions
- Juvenile
To get to the Southwest Justice Center, take Winchester Road (Highway 79) to Auld Road. Go east on Auld Road and you will find the court located at:
The Southwest Justice Center
30755-D Auld Road
Murrieta, CA 92563
The Southwest Justice Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except court holidays. Parking is available in the front of the building.
A jail facility and Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is also located on the complex as a way to save travel time and cut county costs.
If you have a pending criminal matter in the Southwest Justice Center, you should contact our experienced Riverside County criminal defense attorneys immediately. Our skilled and knowledgeable lawyers have been successfully defending clients in Riverside County courts for more than 40+ years. We can help you now.
What You Need to Know About the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta
The Southwest Justice Center is extremely busy. The public defender’s office at the Southwest Justice Center is overloaded with clients due to the amount of cases that are handled within the court. Thus, it can be very difficult to get an adequate defense from a public defender in Riverside County. That is why you should consider hiring an experienced Riverside criminal defense attorney who can take the time to focus on your case and provide you with the best possible defense to the charges you are facing.
Court opens at 7:30 a.m. for arraignments at the Southwest Justice Center and judges begin hearing cases at 8:30 a.m. Riverside County criminal defense lawyers are given priority by judges in the Southwest Justice Center, so if you hire our law firm, your case will be heard early and you will not have to waste time waiting for your case to be called.
Regardless if you have hired a private criminal defense law firm or have been assigned a public defender, we recommend getting to the Southwest Justice Center early so that you do not risk being late for your court appearance.
Judges at the Southwest Justice Center
The judges who handle criminal cases at the Southwest Justice Center include:
- Hon. Elaine M. Kiefer Johnson – Judge Johnson was appointed to the court by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010. She was previously a public defender and currently presides over criminal cases in department S103.
- Hon. John M. Davis – Judge Davis acted as district attorney in Riverside County for more than 20 years and was appointed to the court in 2010. He presides over criminal cases in department S202.
- Hon. Mark A. Mandio – Judge Mandio was elected to a full term in 2008 and was re-elected unopposed in 2014. He presides over criminal cases in department S301.
- Hon. Stephen J. Gallon – Judge Gallon was appointed to the court by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2009 and presides over criminal cases in department S304. Before serving on the bench, he was a district attorney for more than 10 years. Many defendants and criminal lawyers have noted that Judge Gallon is patient and understanding.
- Hon. Sean Lafferty – Judge Lafferty is a former prosecutor who was elected in 2014. He presides over juvenile cases in department SJ1.
- Hon. Judith C. Clark – Judge Clark was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005 and was re-elected in both 2008 and 2014 with no opposition. She presides over juvenile cases in department SJ2.
Our skilled and knowledgeable Murrieta criminal defense lawyers have been successfully defending clients within the Southwest Justice Center since it opened in 2003. We know the local judges and procedures for the court. Lawyers from other counties may not understand the specific practices and personnel in the Riverside County courts. Contact our law firm today at (877) 466-5245 so that we can help you with your pending matter in the Southwest Justice Center.
List of Prohibited Items in the Southwest Justice Center
The following items are not allowed in the building at the Southwest Justice Center. You will be denied entry if you attempt to bring in any of these items:
- Firearms
- Tasers and stun guns
- Gun-shaped lighters and toy or replica guns, including BB guns and pellet guns
- Bullets and ammunition
- All knives and sharp items, including Swiss Army knives, multi-tool type knives and knitting needles
- Scissors
- Razors and box cutters
- Hand tools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches and hammers
- Ice picks
- Tear gas, pepper gas and mace
- Animal repellent
- Butane fuel
- Cigarette lighters
- Darts
- Letter openers
- Heavy duty wire
- Heavy gauge chains
- Laser pointers (except by attorneys needing it for trial)
- Skateboards and skates
- Needles and syringes
- Alcohol and controlled substances, including marijuana
- Handcuffs and handcuff keys
- Glass containers or objects
In addition, Sheriff’s Department supervisors at the facility can prohibit you from bringing any item that they believe presents a safety concern into the courthouse.
You should also know that food, drinks and chewing gum are not allowed in the courtroom. Cellphones are allowed, but must be turned off when entering a courtroom.
Dress Code for the Southwest Justice Center
If you have to make a court appearance at the Southwest Justice Center, you need to know that there is a strict dress code within the courthouse.
Shirts and shoes are required for every person in the courtroom. Tank tops and T-shirts are not permitted, so dress appropriately. It is best to look presentable in front of the judge so he or she knows that you are taking your case seriously. Our Murrieta criminal defense lawyers recommend you wear a suit or business attire to your court appearance.
Additionally, you could be denied entry into the Southwest Justice center if you bring “excess clothing beyond what is reasonable for personal use and current weather conditions.”
Do Not Make an Appearance at the Southwest Justice Center Without a Skilled Murrieta Criminal Defense Attorney
Do you have a pending criminal case in the Southwest Justice Center? You should not make a court appearance without the help of a skilled and knowledgeable Riverside County criminal defense attorney.
At Wallin & Klarich, our criminal lawyers have more than 40+ years of experience successfully defending clients facing criminal matters in the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. Our familiarity with the local judges and court system has helped us develop a reputation of success in Riverside County criminal cases. We can use this experience to your advantage.
Contact our law firm today at (877) 466-5245 so we can begin to help you.