San Mateo County Superior Court

San Mateo County was created by exclusion from the City and County of San Francisco when it was incorporated in 1856;{{rp|1}} San Mateo County was re-established by an act passed on April 18, 1857, which also made Redwood City the county seat and included provisions for the first County Court, with sessions to be held in March, June, and November of each year.{{cite California statute |year=1857 |chapter=CXCII |page=222 |title=An act to reorganize and establish the County of San Mateo}} [https://clerk.assembly.ca.gov/sites/clerk.assembly.ca.gov/files/archive/Statutes/1857/1857.PDF#page=237 direct URL] The first County Judge was the honorable Benjamin I. Fox (1804–69), who served from 1856 to 1860;{{rp|2}} court was held in a storehouse on Redwood Creek, rented from J.V. Diller for $40/month.{{rp|3–4}}

The original two-storey County courthouse ('Grist Mill') was completed in February 1858 on land donated to the County by Simon Mezes.{{cite book |url=http://www.harker.com/History/PDF/Booklets/TheEarlyCourtsOfSanMateoCounty-stdres.pdf |title=The Early Courts of San Mateo County |author=Edmonds, John G. |editor=Denser, Spring |date=1986 |accessdate=25 August 2020}}{{rp|4}} Mezes also donated land that was used for local parks (California Square, which is now the site of the Hall of Justice and Records, and Mezes Park).{{cite news |url=https://climaterwc.com/2019/01/26/california-square-was-the-heart-of-redwood-city/ |title=California Square was the Heart of Redwood City |date=January 26, 2019 |newspaper=Climate Redwood City |accessdate=25 August 2020}} The 'Grist Mill' courthouse was designed with a jail in the basement, courtroom and government offices on the first floor, and a community hall on the second floor.{{rp|4–5}}

The top floor was destroyed in the October 1868 Hayward earthquake, and a second courthouse ('Justice') was built in 1882, using the remaining ground floor as an annex.{{rp|5–6}} That year, George H. Buck was elected as the San Mateo County District Attorney; he won election as the County Judge in 1890 and served as the sole judge in the county until 1932, presiding over 20,000 cases, including the famous Flood Estate Case (1931).{{rp|9}} {{cite court |litigants=Estate of Flood |vol=21 |reporter=P.2d |opinion=579 |court=Cal. |date=1933 |url=https://casetext.com/case/estate-of-flood}}

File:San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, Court House. Redwood City, California - NARA - 513321.tif]]

A contract for the third courthouse was awarded in 1903, to be built according to plans by Dodge & Dolliver;{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19030924.2.79 |title=Award Contract for New Courthouse |date=September 24, 1903 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |accessdate=24 August 2020}} the cornerstone was laid in May 1904{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19040503.2.15 |title=Masons lay the cornerstone of Redwood City courthouse |date=May 3, 1904 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |accessdate=24 August 2020}} and it was completed behind the existing 1882/1858 courthouse in 1906, but both were destroyed shortly thereafter in the April 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The 1882 courthouse had been sold for $205 just two weeks before the earthquake.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19060403.2.102.22 |title=Old courthouse is sold to a contractor for $205 |date=April 3, 1906 |newspaper=San Francisco call |accessdate=24 August 2020}}

A fourth county courthouse ('Temple of Justice') was built around the surviving dome of the third and completed in 1910.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/REDWOOD-CITY-Revealing-a-Temple-of-Justice-2632599.php |title=Revealing a Temple of Justice / Courthouse will be restored to its original 1910 look |author=Gaura, Maria Alicia |date=May 26, 2005 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=24 August 2020}} During the demolition of the ruins of the third courthouse, the dome itself was found to have caused some of the destruction: because it was inadequately secured to its foundation, the iron supporting structure had swayed like a pendulum.{{rp|7–8}} The 1910 courthouse was accepted by the county board of supervisors on May 4; the cost was {{USD|220327|1910|round=-3}} and the architect, Glenn Allen, was awarded 5 per cent of that sum for supervising the construction.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19090127.2.100 |title=Magistrate must explain conduct |date=January 27, 1909 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19100505.2.82.3 |title=New courthouse is ready for furniture |newspaper=San Francisco Call |date=May 5, 1910 |accessdate=24 August 2020}} A scandal had erupted in 1909 over partial payments made to the contractor before the physical construction was completed, on Allen's recommendation as overseer;{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19090119.2.35.10 |title=Grand jury bores into county mess |date=January 19, 1909 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SJMN19090421.2.35 |title=Supervisors hear more of court house trouble |date=April 21, 1909 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury-News |accessdate=24 August 2020}} although those charges were proven untrue,{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SJMN19090209.2.66 |title=Construction company proves charges untrue |date=February 9, 1909 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury-News |accessdate=24 August 2020}} Allen was later accused of bribery in connection with bidding for the landscape improvements around the new courthouse.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SJMN19100707.2.161 |title=Merry fight starts in Redwood over contract |date=July 7, 1910 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury-News |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19100719.2.85 |title=Architect denies bribery charge |date=July 19, 1910 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |accessdate=24 August 2020}}

File:Court House, San Mateo County, 1950s (5129319908).jpg

The 1910 courthouse also served as the seat of the County government;{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19110304.2.80 |title=Peninsula city benefits by rail and water routes |date=March 4, 1911 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |accessdate=24 August 2020}} in 1939, the Public Works Administration completed an expansion to the existing courthouse, which removed the original facade; another contemporary addition which was completed in 1941 surrounded the original building with modern structures.{{rp|12}} The Hall of Justice and Records (HJR) was completed in 1956 for the County government and a tower was added to the Hall of Justice and Records in 1971.{{cite web |url=https://historysmc.pastperfectonline.com/photo/A9EE0703-7CD4-4738-B90E-568592243313 |title=Redwood City Hall of Justice, 1961 |author=Pearl, Norton |publisher=San Mateo County Historical Association |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18953926/the-times/ |title=Bond Proposal For Building |date=March 14, 1962 |newspaper=San Mateo County Times |accessdate=24 August 2020}} The original (1956) design is credited to UC Berkeley architecture professor Michael Goodman.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/architect_and_engineer_vol_196-199_1954.pdf#page=419 |title=Hall of Justice for Redwood City |date=August 1954 |magazine=Architect and Engineer |volume=198 |number=2 |page=47 |accessdate=24 August 2020}} Court operations moved to the HJR upon its completion, but some functions were returned to the 1910 courthouse in early 1964.{{rp|13}}

The courts did not move back to the HJR completely until the 1990s, after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the historic 1910 courthouse. The 1910 courthouse survived the 1989 earthquake and currently houses the San Mateo County History Museum;{{cite web |url=https://historysmc.org/courthouse-history |title=Courthouse History |publisher=San Mateo County Historical Association |accessdate=24 August 2020}} it was acquired by the San Mateo County Historical Association in 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.cschs.org/history/california-county-courthouses-alphabetical/san-mateo-county/ |title=San Mateo County Courthouse |website=California Supreme Court Historical Society |accessdate=24 August 2020}}

File:San Mateo County History Museum.jpg

A civil grand jury recommended in 1999 the HJR structure be retrofitted and that hazardous original construction materials (asbestos and lead paint) be removed.{{cite report |url=https://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_divisions/grand_jury/1999reports.php?page=99retrofit.html |title=Hall of Justice Seismic Retrofit |date=1999 |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |accessdate=24 August 2020}} The annex obscuring the front of the 1910 courthouse was torn down in 2005 and the original facade was restored. Courtroom A in the 1910 courthouse is still used for ceremonial purposes.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, jury selection proceedings were temporarily moved in September 2020 to the San Mateo County Event Center in the city of San Mateo to allow for social distancing.{{cite news |url=https://climaterwc.com/2020/08/13/jury-selection-to-move-to-san-mateo-county-event-center/ |title=Jury selection to move to San Mateo County Event Center |date=August 13, 2020 |newspaper=Climate Redwood City |accessdate=24 August 2020}}

{{OSM Location map

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|mark-title1 =Southern Branch, 400 County Center (Redwood City)

|mark-coord2 ={{Coord|37.659024|-122.434775}}

|mark-title2 =Northern Branch, 1050 Mission Rd (South San Francisco)

|mark-coord3 ={{Coord|37.512433|-122.336483}}

|mark-title3 =Juvenile Branch, 222 Paul Scannell Dr (San Mateo)

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|mark-title4 =Central Branch, 800 N Humboldt (San Mateo, closed)

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|caption=San Mateo County Superior Court locations:

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The Court is divided into three branches in three cities, with each branch housed in a separate courthouse:

• Southern Branch: Redwood City
• Northern Branch: South San Francisco
• Juvenile Branch: San Mateo

Cases are divided geographically between the Northern and Southern districts, or by age (Juvenile). The Northern District has jurisdiction over matters from the county line south to (and including) Burlingame.{{cite web |url=https://www.sanmateocourt.org/documents/local_rules_localrules.pdf |title=Local Rules |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{rp|Rule 6.8}}

Previously, the court was housed in five locations;{{cite web |url=http://www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/jurisdiction.php |title=Court Judicial District and Geographical Areas |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite report |url=http://napco4courtleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/San-Mateo-FINAL-Report-revised-3-8-12-2.pdf |title=Management Structure Review: Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |author1=Griller, Gordon |author2=Raaen, Nial |date=March 2012 |publisher=Court Consulting Services, National Center for State Courts |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{rp|3}} in addition to the three listed above, the court included the Central Branch (located in the city of San Mateo){{cite web |url=http://www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/locations_and_contact_info/central_branch.php |title=Central Branch - Maps & Directions |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117200803/http://www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/locations_and_contact_info/central_branch.php |archivedate=January 17, 2013}} and the Southern Branch Annex (one block away from the Southern Branch).{{cite web |url=http://www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/locations_and_contact_info/southern_branch_annex.php |title=Southern Branch: Annex - Maps & Directions |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425032909/http://www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/locations_and_contact_info/southern_branch_annex.php |archivedate=April 25, 2013}} The Central Branch was closed in 2013 due to budget cuts,{{cite letter |url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/68106-san-mateo-20130513.pdf |subject=Notification Pursuant to Government Code Section 68106 |date=May 13, 2013 |recipient=Ms. Debora Morrison |author=John C. Fitton, Court Executive Officer |accessdate=24 August 2020}} and the Annex, which was the countywide Traffic Court, was given to the County in 2019{{cite press release |url=http://sanmateocourt.org/documents/court_news_and_notices/020119.pdf |title=Notice: The Southern Branch Annex will be closing down permanently on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 4:00 PM |date=February 1, 2019 |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |accessdate=25 August 2020}} and demolished to clear space for County Office Building #3 (COB3). The County will move some employees from the Hall of Justice to COB3 after its completion; the space vacated after the move to COB3 will be used for Traffic Court. Meanwhile, Traffic Court operations moved temporarily to the Northern Branch.{{cite news |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/services-expand-at-south-san-francisco-courthouse/article_47bcd67e-17ae-11e9-9063-2bef3d90ce2f.html |title=Services expand at South San Francisco courthouse |url-access=limited |author=Schuessler, Anna |date=January 13, 2019 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-county-government-center-building-plans-move-ahead-in-redwood-city/article_c6916c02-5044-11e9-83ab-0b25dba75802.html |title=San Mateo County government center building plans move ahead in Redwood City |url-access=limited |author=Schuessler, Anna |date=March 27, 2019 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{cite report |url=https://cmo.smcgov.org/sites/cmo.smcgov.org/files/SMC%20Govt%20Center_Final%20EIR_20180524_Final%20Print_compiled%20with%20appendices.pdf |title=County Government Center Campus Development Project |chapter=2.5: COB3 Design |date=May 2018 |publisher=San Mateo County Manager's Office, Project Development Unit |accessdate=24 August 2020}}{{rp|2–3}}

Judicial affairs are governed by the Presiding Judge, with authority delegated to an Assisting Presiding Judge if needed.{{cite web |url=https://www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/judges/judicial_profiles.php |title=Judicial Profiles |website=sanmateocourt.org |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo}} The Presiding and Assistant Presiding Judges are elected to serve two-year terms by their peers.{{cite press release |url=http://sanmateocourt.org/documents/court_news_and_notices/091818.pdf |title=San Mateo County Superior Court Bench Elects Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge for 2019-2020 |date=September 18, 2018 |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |accessdate=25 August 2020}}

Non-judicial administration is performed by the Court Executive Officer, who also serves as the Jury Commissioner.{{cite web |url=http://www.sanmateocourt.org/documents/jobs/courtexecutiveofficer2018.pdf |title=Resumes for the position of Court Executive Officer |date=2018 |publisher=Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo |accessdate=26 August 2020}}

• Maude rescues a potted plant on the sidewalk of the Hall of Justice and Records in the film Harold and Maude.{{cite web |url=http://reelsf.com/reelsf/2016/5/20/harold-and-maude-save-that-tree |title=Harold and Maude - Save That Tree! |author=CitySleuth |date=May 29, 2016 |publisher=Reel SF |accessdate=6 April 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.boffo.us/haroldandmaude/maudeparksonasidewalk.html |title=Maude parks on a sidewalk after spotting a tree that needs saving |author=Meretzky, Steve |author-link=Steve Meretzky |date= |publisher=boffo |accessdate=6 April 2018}}
• The trial scenes from the film Mrs. Doubtfire were filmed in Courtroom A.{{cite web |url=https://historysmc.org/courtrooma |title=Courtroom A |publisher=San Mateo County Historical Association |accessdate=24 August 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.sanmateocourt.org
• {{cite web |url=http://www.courthouses.co/us-states/states-a-g/california/san-mateo-county/ |title=San Mateo County |author=Deacon, John |website=American Courthouses}}
• {{cite news |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-countys-courthouse/article_2b413e59-1d15-5df6-8efa-66764fb9ba33.html |title=San Mateo County's Courthouse |author=Fredricks, Darold |date=July 4, 2011 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |url-access=limited}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.des-ae.com/project/san-mateo-county-historic-courthouse/ |title=San Mateo County Historic Courthouse |website=DES Architects-Engineers}}

{{California topic|| Superior Court|title=California superior courts|exclude-regions=yes|exclude-cities=yes|exclude-suffix=yes}}

Category:San Mateo County, California

Category:Superior courts in California