What should you know about Downey Courthouse for a criminal case?

Downey Courthouse sits at 7500 East Imperial Highway, Downey, CA 90242, and the Los Angeles Superior Court's own records list only criminal and traffic cases there. It shares the court's Southeast District with three other courthouses: Norwalk, Bellflower and Whittier. Whatever your citation, notice to appear or release paperwork says is the building and date that actually controls.

Which criminal cases does Downey Courthouse hear?

The court's records list only Criminal and Traffic at Downey, and Norwalk and Bellflower list Criminal too, so the building named on your own paperwork decides where your case goes.

The Superior Court's Local Rule 2.2 puts Downey in the Southeast District alongside Norwalk, Bellflower and Whittier Courthouses, addresses in the table below. Downey's own courthouse record lists Criminal and Traffic as its only case types, and Norwalk's and Bellflower's records likewise list Criminal; Whittier's own record lists only Family Law. Local Rule 2.3(a)(3) requires that a criminal complaint be filed "at the courthouse handling criminal matters which serves the city or unincorporated area where the offense is alleged to have occurred," though the Supervising Judge of the Criminal Division may order a different courthouse for a case, or a group of cases, for good cause. The firm's Los Angeles County courthouse assignment guide has the current picture for the Southeast District, and for courthouses in other counties, see the firm's directory of California criminal courthouses and jails.

Table: the Southeast District's four courthouses under Local Rule 2.2.

How do I find my case and court date at Downey Courthouse?

Your citation or release paperwork usually already shows a case number and date, and the Superior Court's own online tool can confirm or add to it.

1. Look first at whatever you already have: a citation, cite-out slip, bail receipt or jail release paperwork. The case number, courtroom and date are often printed there.
2. A case number is enough to look the case up on the court's Search for a Criminal Case page.
3. Without a case number, the court's separate Search for Case by Defendant Name tool lists matching case numbers, filing dates and filing locations, and the court's FAQ says, "Your credit card will be charged $4.75 per every name search."
4. For a question the online tool does not resolve, call the Criminal Division line at Downey Courthouse, (562) 803-7050, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on court days.

What happens at arraignment at Downey Courthouse?

Downey's arraignment is the first court date, where the charge is read and a plea taken; someone in custody must be brought there within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays.

Penal Code 858 fixes what the defendant must be told right away: "the magistrate shall immediately inform the defendant of the charge against him or her, and of his or her right to the aid of counsel in every stage of the proceedings." A felony case adds more under Penal Code 859, a copy of the complaint and time to arrange a lawyer. Wanting counsel but lacking the means to pay for it triggers an assignment under Penal Code 987(a).

Penal Code 825 sets out exactly how long the court has once someone is in custody:

"Except as provided in paragraph (2), the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays. When the 48 hours prescribed by paragraph (1) expire at a time when the court in which the magistrate is sitting is not in session, that time shall be extended to include the duration of the next court session on the judicial day immediately following. If the 48-hour period expires at a time when the court in which the magistrate is sitting is in session, the arraignment may take place at any time during that session. However, when the defendant's arrest occurs on a Wednesday after the conclusion of the day's court session, and if the Wednesday is not a court holiday, the defendant shall be taken before the magistrate not later than the following Friday, if the Friday is not a court holiday." (Penal Code 825(a)(1) and (a)(2))

A person who was cited and released goes to court on the date already printed on that paperwork instead. For a felony charge, Penal Code 859b entitles both sides to a preliminary hearing no later than the 10th court day counted from arraignment or the entered plea, whichever lands later, absent a mutual waiver or a good-cause finding by the court. The firm's arraignment guide walks through what to expect.

How does bail and release work for a case at Downey Courthouse?

Many lower-level arrests carry $0 bail; for listed serious charges, lower bail or own recognizance needs a hearing, and Kowalczyk requires money bail that is generally reasonably attainable.

Since October 1, 2023, the court's Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol has sorted eligible arrests into three outcomes; the court's felony and misdemeanor bail schedules for 2026, in effect since January 1, now begin with it:

Table: the Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol's three outcomes.

Serious and violent charges are carved out of the zero-dollar outcome entirely. Penal Code 1270.1 lists those offenses, serious and violent felonies other than residential burglary among several named charges, and for them, a hearing in open court, two court days' notice to each side, inside Penal Code 825's own deadline, must come before any own-recognizance release or bail below the schedule.

Penal Code 1270(a) makes own-recognizance release the default for a misdemeanor defendant held in custody at arraignment, unless the judge finds on the record, under Penal Code 1275, that letting the person go would compromise public safety or would not reasonably assure a later court appearance. In a noncapital case, the California Supreme Court's April 30, 2026 decision in In re Kowalczyk permits outright denial only for the offenses article I, section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c) of the state Constitution lists, and it holds that bail "must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable"; In re Humphrey adds that a judge setting money bail weighs ability to pay and nonfinancial conditions. See the firm's how California bail amounts are set answer and its bail hearings page for more.

Can I appear remotely at Downey Courthouse?

Downey's criminal courtrooms run on LACourtConnect, but whether any particular hearing can be attended by video still comes down to Penal Code 977 and the judge.

The answer comes from Penal Code 977, and it is not the same for every charge:

Table: in-person presence requirements under Penal Code 977.

Defendants never appear remotely for jury or court trials, and a felony sentencing stays in person "except for postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law."

June 16, 2025 is when Downey's criminal courtrooms switched to LACourtConnect. The court's rollout announcement puts the process simply: "attorneys and litigants must use LACC by visiting the welcome page and searching by case number, calendar or name under the Criminal litigation type." It is free, over Microsoft Teams. See the firm's LACourtConnect guide for the check-in steps.

Getting to Downey Courthouse: hours, security and parking

Downey's doors open at 8:00 a.m., its Clerk's Office at 8:30 a.m., and both close at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except court holidays; all visitors go through weapons screening.

Table: Downey Courthouse hours and the main line.

A single Los Angeles County order, in force since January 2, 2025, sets what nobody may carry into any courthouse in the county.

Table: examples of what the Superior Court's prohibited-items list keeps out; its exemption for medical, mobility or disability needs covers only certain marked items, such as aerosols.

For parking, the court directs visitors to public parking in the lots in front of the courthouse.

Which public defender, district attorney and probation offices serve Downey Courthouse?

The Public Defender lists a Downey branch at 7500 Imperial Hwy., Suite 224; the court's directory for the building lists a Criminal Division line and the Sheriff's Office.

Table: offices listed at Downey Courthouse, from the court's own directory.

Unlike Norwalk's, the court's current directory for Downey lists no District Attorney, Public Defender or probation office. Penal Code 987(a) still requires the court to assign counsel to a defendant who wants a lawyer and cannot afford one, whatever office is currently assigned to Downey cases. The Public Defender's own contact page lists a Downey branch at 7500 Imperial Hwy., Ste. 224, (562) 803-7130, and its FAQ tells clients to call the branch for the courthouse where they were charged.

Talk to a lawyer about a Downey case, and the firm's Downey office

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free consultation, is available 24/7, has payment plans and speaks Spanish, for a case that starts at Downey Courthouse. The firm's Downey office is at:

Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. 10802 Downey Ave Downey, CA 90241 (562) 380-3060

Call (800) 755-5174 or use the firm's contact page to reach a criminal defense lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

Does Downey Courthouse have its own District Attorney or Public Defender branch?

The Public Defender lists a Downey branch on its own contact page: 7500 Imperial Hwy., Ste. 224, (562) 803-7130. The court's own directory for the building names no District Attorney or Public Defender office.

Does Downey Courthouse handle traffic tickets?

Yes. The court lists Traffic among Downey's two case types, and its directory includes a Traffic Clerk's Office and separate lines for Traffic Night Court and traffic telephone payments.

How much does a guest name search cost if I do not have a case number?

Per the court's own online-services FAQ, "Your credit card will be charged $4.75 per every name search," and that is true even when the search comes back empty, because the charge covers the attempt, not a result.

Can I check whether someone is in county jail before a Downey court date?

Use the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Inmate Information Center: enter a last name, first name, middle name and date of birth. The Sheriff's page itself says: "For general custody related questions and help with inmate location, call: (213) 473-6100." For an emergency, call 911 instead. A booking made within the last two hours may not appear yet.

What happens if I miss a required court date at Downey?

A bench warrant is possible, and a willful failure to appear, or a willfully broken promise to appear, is itself a separate crime under California law. The better move is calling the Criminal Division line, or simply showing up at court, right away. For what happens from there, see the firm's bench warrant guide.

Can family members watch a Downey hearing online?

No. As the court's own notice puts it: "LACC is intended solely for remote appearances by case participants, including litigants, attorneys, and witnesses. LACC is not available for public or media observation." In-person attendance still works, since nonconfidential proceedings stay open to the public that way.