Senior Assistant District Attorney Mary Anne McCauley, Branch Court Operations
Branch Court Operations personnel at the Justice Centers, located in Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Fullerton, and Westminster, are responsible for handling misdemeanor cases from the filing stage through trial. They also handle all felonies not assigned to specialized units from the filing stage through the preliminary hearing, which is the last hearing before the case is bound over for felony trial. The Juvenile Justice Center, located in the City of Orange, handles juvenile offenses committed in the County by persons under the age of 18. These offenses include anything that would be classified as a crime if it had been committed by an adult. These offenses range from misdemeanors such as petty theft, vandalism, and driving while under the influence up to felonies including drug offenses, robbery, and sexual assault.
Communities serviced in the Justice Centers
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Justice Centers
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Communities Served
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| Central Justice Center |
Santa Ana, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park |
| Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Facility) |
Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Lake Forest, Laguna Woods, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Balboa, Corona Del Mar, Irvine, John Wayne Airport, and Santa Ana Heights |
| Harbor Justice Center (Laguna Niguel Facility) |
Capistrano Beach, Coto de Caza, Dana Point, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Trabuco Canyon |
| Juvenile Justice Center |
All communities in Orange County |
| North Justice Center |
Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, and Yorba Linda |
| West Justice Center |
Seal Beach, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Midway City, Garden Grove, Westminster, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and Stanton |
Branch Court Operations - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My 16-year-old daughter got a speeding ticket. Does she have to go to court at the Juvenile Justice Center in Orange?
A: Probably not. Many less serious offenses committed by juveniles, including most traffic offenses, are handled in the regional Justice Centers. The ticket includes the location of the court in which the minor must appear. This is usually near the bottom of the ticket next to an appropriately marked court location.
Q: I am the victim of a crime. Should I report it to the District Attorney?
A: No. Crimes should be reported to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the area in which the crime occurred. Those agencies prepare reports that are submitted to the District Attorneys Office where they are reviewed for the filing of appropriate criminal charges.
Q: I just got a subpoena. Do I have to go to court?
A: Yes. The subpoena is an order of the court. Please follow the directions printed on the subpoena.
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