How to Locate the Time and Place of Local Court Trials and Hearings
This page is designed to help students find local court information. Hastings students may visit nearby courts to see criminal or civil jury trials, law and motion hearings, or oral arguments at the appellate level, either for a class assignment or for fun. Students can also visit Court Time, Hastings' webpage containing links to court calendars.
State Criminal Trials
In San Francisco County, most criminal jury trials are held at the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street (Map). Courtroom information on individual criminal trials is not published in any newspaper or on the Internet. You will need to go to the courthouse and look at the master calendar outside of Courtroom 22 on the third floor, or in Room 101.
There are a few criminal jury trials held each week in the Civic Center Courthouse at 400 McAllister Street. These trials are usually held in Departments 622, 624, and 001; information on scheduling can be found on the Court Calendar page of The Recorder. Before going to court, it is probably a good idea to call the courtroom clerk to find out if the trial is still scheduled or if it has been settled.
State Civil Trials and Law and Motion Hearings
The Recorder links to times and locations of jury trials, probate motions, discovery motions, law and motion hearings, and writs and receivers motions. If you want to see a civil trial, call the courtroom clerk to find out if the trial is still scheduled, or if it has been settled. Telephone numbers can be found online at the court website.
California Court of Appeal - First Appellate District - Oral Argument
Calendar information on oral arguments taking place in the First Appellate District courtroom at 350 McAllister Street is available at http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov. Select "First Appellate District" from the top of the right hand menu, and then click the Calendar button.
California Supreme Court - Oral Argument
When the Supreme Court is sitting in San Francisco, hearings are held at 350 McAllister Street. The calendar will be posted at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calendars.cgi. Just choose Supreme Court from the drop-down menu and click the Calendar button.
Federal District Court - Trials and Motions
Courtroom and time information on both criminal and civil jury trials, and on status and case management conferences is available online at http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/cand/calendar.nsf/Calendars?OpenView. Calendar information is also available via The Recorder. If you are going to see a trial, it is a good idea to call the courtroom clerk to find out if the trial is still scheduled or has been settled. Telephone numbers can be located online at the court website or in The Recorder.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - Oral Argument
The calendar for the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is available online at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/. Click the calendar link on the right.
Last updated September 23, 2010
For additional information, please contact Circulation Librarian
Tony Pelczynski.