Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, CA

Address: 190-200 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110

Phone (General): (408) 808-6600

Phone (Criminal Division): (408) 808-6611

Building Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

Phone Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Friday

Court System: Santa Clara County Superior Court

The Santa Clara County Hall of Justice is the primary criminal courthouse for Santa Clara County, located in downtown San Jose at the corner of Hedding and San Pedro Streets — adjacent to the Santa Clara County Main Jail. The courthouse hears criminal cases, juvenile dependency matters, and drug treatment court cases originating throughout Santa Clara County, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Cupertino, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy.

Types of Cases Heard

The Hall of Justice is where the vast majority of criminal cases in Santa Clara County are heard, including:

• Misdemeanor arraignments, pretrial hearings, and trials
• Felony arraignments, preliminary hearings, and trials
• Probation violation hearings
• Drug treatment and collaborative court programs
• Juvenile dependency cases

Civil, probate, and small claims cases are heard at the Downtown Superior Court on First Street. Family law and juvenile dependency cases are heard at the Family Justice Center on First Street as well. Juvenile delinquency cases are heard at the Juvenile Justice Courthouse on Guadalupe Parkway.

What to Expect at a Hearing

Most criminal arraignments and calendar matters start in the morning. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early — security screening at the entrance can be slow, particularly on Monday mornings.

A few things to know before your hearing:

• Dress conservatively — business or business-casual attire. Defendants make an impression on the judge from the moment they walk in.
• Security screening operates like airport TSA — no weapons, sharp objects, recording devices, or anything that could be construed as a weapon.
• Phones must be silenced or turned off in courtrooms; some judges prohibit them entirely.
• Department numbers are posted at each courtroom; the clerk’s office or information desk can direct you if you’re unsure.

If your loved one is in custody at the Main Jail next door, they’ll be transported to the Hall of Justice for their hearings rather than appearing remotely in most cases.

Parking and Logistics

A public parking garage is located across the street from the courthouse, with a covered skybridge connecting it to the building. The garage is the most reliable option, as on-street parking around the Civic Center is limited.

For public transit, the courthouse is accessible via VTA light rail (Civic Center station) and several VTA bus routes serving downtown San Jose.

If you have a criminal case heard at the Hall of Justice, our team is ready to help. We appear here regularly and know the courthouse’s departments, judges, and procedures. Learn how we defend Santa Clara County criminal cases.

Contact us for a confidential case evaluation →