Santa Clara County Superior Court Explained

Court Name:Santa Clara County Superior Court
Imagesize2:200px
Jurisdiction:California
Santa Clara County
Type:Non-partisan election
Authority:Constitution of California
Appealsto:California Court of Appeal
6th Appellate District
Website:www.scscourt.org
Chiefjudgetitle:Presiding Judge
Chiefjudgename:Hon. Theodore C. Zayner

The Superior Court of California for and in the County of Santa Clara is the state trial court in and for Santa Clara County, California.

The Santa Clara Superior Court serves the public by providing equal justice for all in a fair, accessible, effective, efficient, and courteous manner; resolving disputes under the law; applying the law consistently, impartially, and independently; instilling public trust and confidence in the court.

History

San Jose was chosen as the initial site for the state's capitol in 1849, which it held until 1851, when legislators voted to move to Vallejo.[1] After Santa Clara County was formed on April 25, 1851, a contest was held to select a design for a new building worthy of being a state capitol in 1860. The winning entry, designed by Levi Goodrich, was constructed from 1866 to 1868 at a cost of .[2]

The courthouse was destroyed by fire in May 1931.[3] [4] [5] Reconstruction work began in December 1931[6] and completed in August 1932;[7] a dedication ceremony for the reconstructed courthouse was held on September 17.[8] As originally completed in 1868, the courthouse was topped by a copper-covered dome; the copper sheathing melted in the intense heat from the 1931 fire and the dome was removed during reconstruction.[9] After the disastrous 1931 fire and rebuilding, it survives today as the Old Courthouse,[10] which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the St. James Square National Historic District in 1979.

A modern courthouse was completed in 1964, replacing an older Hall of Records which had been built adjacent to the county courthouse. The Hall of Justice, located a few blocks to the north, was completed in 1991.[11] The Family Justice Center was completed in 2016, consolidating court operations from six different facilities in a single building.[12]

The doctrine of corporate personhood in US law is commonly traced to the 1886 decision of the United States Supreme Court in Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, which started in this court.

Courthouses

Closed

Areas Served

The Court serves the Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places of Santa Clara County.(Incorporated Cities and or Towns are marked with an asterisk (*).)

Judges

Present

The following judicial officers serve on the Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County, as of June 2019:

[18]

Commissioners

[19]

Notable past judges

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: A Capital on Wheels: History of How Sacramento Became the Seat of Government . February 14, 1903 . Press Democrat . 4 September 2020.
  2. Book: History of San Jose and Surroundings . Hall, Frederic . 1871 . A. L. Bancroft and Company . San Francisco . 301–304 . 4 September 2020.
  3. News: Fires Spreading Over State . May 19, 1931 . Healdsburg Tribune . 4 September 2020.
  4. News: San Jose Fire . May 22, 1931 . Calexico Chronicle . 4 September 2020.
  5. News: Old San Jose Records Go in $250,000 Fire . May 19, 1931 . Santa Cruz Evening News . 4 September 2020.
  6. News: Work started on new Santa Clara County Courthouse . December 11, 1931 . Santa Cruz Evening News . 4 September 2020.
  7. News: Knife slayer to have trial in September . August 10, 1932 . Oakland Tribune . 4 September 2020.
  8. News: Dedication Date Set for Santa Clara Courthouse . August 27, 1932 . Oakland Tribune . 4 September 2020.
  9. Web site: Santa Clara County Courthouse . https://web.archive.org/web/20200918233940/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/264815/santa-clara-county-courthouse-san-jose-ca-usa . dead . 2020-09-18 . Emporis.
  10. Web site: Old Courthouse History . Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara . 4 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Santa Clara County . Deacon, John . American Courthouses . 4 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Fact Sheet: Superior Court of Santa Clara County, Santa Clara Family Justice Center Courthouse . October 2016 . Judicial Council of California . 4 September 2020.
  13. Web site: Family Courthouse . Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara . 4 September 2020.
  14. Web site: Notre Dame Courthouse . Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara . 4 September 2020.
  15. Superior Court Announces Relocation of Traffic Court . April 23, 2008 . Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara . 4 September 2020.
  16. Web site: Sunnyvale Courthouse . Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara . 4 September 2020.
  17. Web site: Terraine Courthouse . Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara . 4 September 2020.
  18. Web site: 2022-08-09 . Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 8.8.22 . 2023-11-12 . California Governor . en.
  19. Web site: November 11, 2023 . 12 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231112081216/https://www.scscourt.org/general_info/news_media/newspdfs/2022/PR%20Santa%20Clara%20County%20Welcomes%20Johanna%20Thai%20Van%20Dat%20to%20the%20Bench.pdf . Santa Clara County Superior Welcomes Commissioner Johanna Thai Van Dat to the Bench . September 12, 2022 . live . Santa Clara County Superior Court.

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