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If you were arrested for DUI in Anaheim, Fullerton, Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, or Yorba Linda, the paperwork in your hand likely lists 1275 North Berkeley Avenue in Fullerton. The North Justice Center handles criminal and traffic cases for those north county cities, and its criminal and traffic divisions are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A first court date can feel abrupt when you are still sorting out how you got home and what happens to your license. This page covers what to expect on arrival, how a first appearance is handled, and what a DUI program usually involves in this part of the county. The DMV's hearing request clock is 10 days.
North Justice Center — court & DMV details
Why your case is here
North Justice Center, at 1275 North Berkeley Avenue in Fullerton, is the designated criminal and traffic hub for the north end of the county. A DUI arrest in Anaheim, Fullerton, Brea, Buena Park, Placentia, Yorba Linda, or the nearby cities is generally heard here. Because the courthouse is dedicated to criminal and traffic work, its calendars are built around exactly these kinds of cases.
Arriving on Berkeley Avenue: lots, screening, and the no food rule
The court's facility page says parking at the North Justice Center is free, with upper and lower lots, and accessible spaces in both for drivers with a DMV placard. Park, then head to the entrance, where the court runs full security. Everyone passes through a weapons screening device and carried items are x-rayed. Knives, scissors, corkscrews, mace, pepper spray, and knitting needles are not allowed.
Plan to go without a snack. The court says no food or drink is allowed in the building. It notes there are vending machines and several fast-food restaurants within walking distance, so eat before you go in. A security desk on the first floor can help with questions, and the building has at least four floors across three wings, with elevators in the south and central wings.
A 2019 court bus guide listed OCTA Routes 43, 143, and 213 (the last at peak hours) with stops along Commonwealth, Fullerton, and Highland. Check OCTA's trip planner for the current schedule.
Your first appearance, step by step
The court says criminal appearances are generally scheduled for 8:30 a.m., with check-in by then. Find your department and time on the posted calendar and go to that courtroom. If you do not see your case, check in with the Criminal Division Clerk's Office. Interpreter requests can go to the clerk's office or the courtroom on the hearing day. Shirt and shoes are required, and phones and laptops must be silent or off.
Skipping the date is the one thing that makes everything worse, since the court warns that failure to appear may result in a warrant. If you hired an attorney, ask whether your lawyer can handle the arraignment for you or whether the judge will want you in the room.
DUI programs near Fullerton and the liaison number
The court's North Justice Center page lists an Alcohol Liaison through the county Health Care Agency at (714) 773-4686. The court does not run DUI programs. It orders them as a condition of probation if you are convicted, and licensed providers deliver them. The county lists 3-month (34 hours), 6-month (48 hours), and 9-month (65 hours) first offender programs, and a 12-hour wet reckless program.
The county's 3-month provider list, revised June 2022, had locations in Anaheim, Fullerton, and Garden Grove. It also noted that one Fullerton location is on a second floor with no elevator, which matters if mobility is a concern. Lists change, so use the county's current provider page.
The 10-day DMV deadline
There are really two cases after a north-county DUI: the one at the North Justice Center, and the DMV's case against your driver's license. The DMV won't wait — you have 10 days from the arrest to demand a hearing. How the DMV hearing works →
How Ron defends a DUI at the North Justice Center
The Orange County District Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanor DUI cases heard at the North Justice Center. A case begins with an arraignment. From there it typically moves into pretrial hearings while the defense collects the police reports, video, and breath or blood test records, then weighs a negotiated resolution against motions or a trial. Ron studies the traffic stop, the officer's observations, and the testing procedure for weaknesses, and he explains each option to you before any decision is made. No result can be promised.
On remote appearances, the court says criminal appearances are generally in person unless the courtroom approves otherwise, and you ask the assigned clerk. Remote traffic arraignments, which the court runs through Department N1 here, are a separate traffic process. The court also allows attorneys in good standing to file an informal arraignment in some misdemeanors under its local rules, and Ron can check whether that applies in your case. He drives to Fullerton from his Irvine office, and he handles your DMV hearing at the same time as the court case so deadlines do not collide.
Where will my Anaheim or Fullerton DUI be heard?
Does the North Justice Center hear civil or family cases?
Which cities file DUI cases at the North Justice Center?
How fast do I have to act to save my license?
Cities that route here
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Ron defends DUI cases across Southern California from his Irvine office — and works directly with you, not a call center.
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