About the author →
The San Diego Central Courthouse at 1100 Union Street, opened in 2017, is the criminal court for the City of San Diego and the central metro — felony matters on the lower floors, misdemeanors above. It is the one place in the county where your misdemeanor DUI might be prosecuted by a City Attorney instead of the District Attorney.
San Diego Central Courthouse — court & DMV details
Why your case is here
The Central Courthouse hears criminal/DUI cases arising in the City of San Diego and its central and coastal communities, plus Poway, which — despite sitting inland near the North County line — routes downtown. The older Hall of Justice on West Broadway no longer hears criminal cases (it's civil-only now), and the Kearny Mesa courthouse handles traffic infractions only — a DUI is a misdemeanor or felony, so it is heard here, not at Kearny Mesa.
City Attorney or DA? At this courthouse, it can be either
This is where San Diego's prosecutor split matters most. A misdemeanor DUI committed inside the City of San Diego — or in Poway or the 4S Ranch area — is prosecuted by the San Diego City Attorney's Criminal & Community Justice Division. A felony DUI, or one arising outside those areas, is prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney. Knowing which office holds your file changes how the case is negotiated.
The 10-day DMV deadline
A San Diego DUI starts a second, separate case at the DMV, and you have only 10 days from arrest to request a hearing. There is no longer a walk-in San Diego Driver Safety office — California handles these by phone and video — so call (833) 543-7703 or let us request the hearing for you. How the DMV hearing works →
How Ron defends a DUI at the Central Courthouse
Ron works directly with you from his Irvine office — examining the stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath or blood evidence, and negotiating with whichever office, City Attorney or DA, is prosecuting — while running the DMV hearing in parallel, in English or Farsi. He serves San Diego from Irvine; no local office is implied, and no result is guaranteed.
Where is the San Diego criminal courthouse for DUI?
Who will prosecute my San Diego DUI?
I was arrested in Poway — which courthouse?
How do I protect my license?
← Back to San Diego County DUI Defense
Ron defends DUI cases across Southern California from his Irvine office — and works directly with you, not a call center.
Learn more about Ron Chini →