Orange County DUI Lawyer
The Orange County Superior Court assigns each city’s criminal cases to one of four justice centers.
DUI DEFENSE ACROSS THE COUNTY
One county, four justice centers
Orange County has no single DUI courthouse. The Superior Court hears criminal cases at four justice centers. Its Court Designation List assigns each of the 34 cities on the list to one of them.
Our published results include four DUI cases at three Orange County justice centers, from 2016 to 2026. They also include three DMV cases from 2018 to 2024, recorded in our files under the DMV Driver Safety office in Orange.
Our only office is in Los Angeles, at 3810 Wilshire Blvd. We also have pages for Irvine, Fullerton, and Westminster, where three of the justice centers are covered in more detail.
FIND YOUR JUSTICE CENTER
Where the court sends each city’s cases
The Court Designation List (effective June 30, 2025) assigns every city to a justice center for criminal and traffic cases. Your citation, release papers, or arraignment letter shows the justice center that applies to you.
North
North Justice Center
1275 N. Berkeley Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
Main phone: (657) 622-5600
It hears criminal cases from Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, and Yorba Linda.
Central
Central Justice Center
700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Main phone: (657) 622-6878
It hears criminal cases from Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, and Villa Park. The court also lists it for some felony hearings from all Orange County cities.
West
Stephen K. Tamura West Justice Center
8141 13th Street, Westminster, CA 92683
Main phone: (657) 622-5900
It hears criminal cases from Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, and Westminster.
Harbor
Harbor Justice Center - Newport Beach
4601 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Main phone: (657) 622-5400
It hears criminal cases from Irvine, Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Aliso Viejo.
It also hears cases from Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and Laguna Woods.
All four
Phones, hours, and security
- The criminal and traffic phone line is the same for all four: (657) 622-8459.
- The criminal and traffic offices list hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. (The Harbor page lists these hours for traffic only.)
- Each building is a full-security facility with weapons screening and X-ray checks of bags.
- Knives (including pocket knives), scissors, and pepper spray are not allowed inside.
- Each justice center’s page on the court website has a parking map for visitors.
- A felony case starts at the justice center for the city. The court may assign the felony trial to an open courtroom at any justice center.
Under 18
Lamoreaux Justice Center
341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868
Main phone: (657) 622-6878
The court’s list sends juvenile delinquency cases from every city to this justice center. A case against a driver under 18 may be heard here instead of at the four justice centers above.
WHO PROSECUTES
The District Attorney, and one exception
The City of Anaheim explains the split on its website. The Orange County District Attorney prosecutes all felonies in the county.
It also prosecutes misdemeanor violations of state law everywhere in the county outside Anaheim. So a misdemeanor DUI in Irvine, Fullerton, or Santa Ana is generally a District Attorney case.
The District Attorney’s main office is at 300 North Flower Street, Santa Ana. It also lists an office at each of the four justice centers.
Inside Anaheim, the Anaheim City Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor and infraction crimes. A misdemeanor DUI arrest in Anaheim is generally a City Attorney case.
Its Prosecution Division is on the 4th floor at 1275 N. Berkeley Ave., Fullerton. That is the North Justice Center’s street address. A DUI filed as a felony in Anaheim goes to the District Attorney instead.
THE FIRST DAYS AND WEEKS
From the arrest to the arraignment
The DMV step applies statewide. The other steps come from Orange County court rules and pages.
WITHIN 10 DAYS
Ask the DMV for a hearing
The license case is not handled at any justice center. A DMV Driver Safety hearing officer decides it.
To get a hearing before the suspension takes effect, ask within 10 days of receiving the DMV notice. The notice is usually given at the arrest. The DMV lists a Driver Safety phone number, (833) 543-7703, and an online Driver Safety portal.
IF YOU ARE HELD
Custody after the arrest
The court’s appearance page says an arrested person may be held for up to 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays (Penal Code 825). If the prosecutor files charges, the arraignment may take place before release.
To check on someone in custody, the court points to the Orange County Jail’s online inmate information page.
BEFORE THE ARRAIGNMENT
Orange County Local Rule 856
In many misdemeanor cases, Local Rule 856 lets a defense attorney enter a not guilty plea on or before the arraignment date. The attorney may do this by phone, by fax, or at the clerk’s office. Only attorneys can use this process, and the court decides whether to allow it.
It is not available if a prior DUI conviction is alleged. It is also not available if you are in custody that day, missed a court date, or have a warrant. Even when this process is used, in a DUI case the court may order you to appear in person at the arraignment, plea, or sentencing (Penal Code 977).
ARRAIGNMENT DAY
At the justice center
Criminal cases are generally set for 8:30 a.m. The court asks you to arrive in time to check in with the courtroom by then. Check the posted calendar for your courtroom number.
If your case is not on the calendar, check in with the Criminal Division clerk’s office. The court warns that failing to appear may lead to an arrest warrant.
COURT PROGRAMS AND LANGUAGE HELP
DUI Court and free interpreters
The court runs DUI Courts for people facing a repeat DUI charge. These voluntary programs combine treatment, probation supervision, and regular court reviews.
For second- and third-time misdemeanor DUI cases, the program lasts at least 12 months. For felony cases, it lasts at least 18 months. The court does not accept applicants with past convictions involving violence, drug sales, or gang activity.
An applicant can ask for a DUI Court evaluation at the arraignment or later. To enter, the applicant pleads guilty, and a jail sentence is stayed (put on hold). During the first two weeks, a participant without a violation may withdraw and take back the plea.
The court provides interpreters free of charge in all criminal, traffic, and juvenile cases. Ask in the courtroom on the hearing date, or contact the courtroom in advance.
The court says it has over 65 staff interpreters at 7 justice centers. Together with outside interpreters, they cover over 50 languages. Its Limited English Proficiency Plan (revised 2018) ranks Korean third and Mandarin fourth among non-English languages, based on its interpreter records.
Attorney Jeff Yeh speaks English and Mandarin Chinese, along with basic Japanese and Korean; a Japanese-speaking secretary and a Korean interpreter can help when needed.
OFFICIAL FIGURES
DUI numbers for the county
The DMV counted 9,790 DUI arrests in Orange County in 2021 (DMV DUI-MIS report). That was 8.9% of all DUI arrests in California that year.
Of the 2021 arrests, 9,460 were misdemeanor arrests, 310 were felony arrests, and 20 were juvenile arrests. The same report counts 11,107 arrests in the county in 2019 and 7,885 in 2020.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reports 1,771 people killed or injured in alcohol-involved crashes in Orange County in 2023.
The DMV also looked at drivers in 2020 injury or fatal crashes involving alcohol or drugs. In Orange County, 17.4% of them had drug-involved impairment. That was the highest share among the 10 counties with the most such drivers.
RESULTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
Our Orange County court and DMV results
Our Success Stories page lists four DUI cases at Orange County justice centers, from 2016 to 2026. It also lists three DMV cases from 2018 to 2024, recorded in our files under the DMV Driver Safety office in Orange. All seven are shown here. In each court case, the DUI charge was dismissed and the client pleaded to a lesser charge often called a “wet reckless.” A wet reckless is a reckless driving conviction entered with a statement that alcohol or drugs were involved (Vehicle Code 23103.5). It still counts as a prior if there is a new DUI within 10 years. In each DMV case, the DMV set aside its action against the driver’s license. A DMV set-aside is a DMV license decision, not a court result.
2026
DUI charge dismissed; wet reckless plea
Court: Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach
Allegation: 0.08 Breath
Disposition: DUI dismissed: Wet Reckless plea
2024
DMV action set aside
DMV office (our records): Orange
DMV Allegation: Reexamination Hearing per DS-427
Ruling: DMV Set Aside
DUI charge dismissed; wet reckless plea
Court: West Justice Center, Westminster
Allegation: 0.08 PAS
Disposition: DUI Dismissed; Wet Reckless plea
2023
DMV action set aside
DMV office (our records): Orange
DMV Allegation: 0.13 Blood
Ruling: DMV Set Aside
2020
DUI charge dismissed; wet reckless plea
Court: West Justice Center, Westminster
Allegation: 0.08 Blood
Disposition: DUI dismissed; Wet Reckless plea
2018
DMV action set aside
DMV office (our records): Orange
DMV Allegation: 0.13 Blood
Ruling: DMV Set Aside
2016
DUI charge dismissed; wet reckless plea
Court: Central Justice Center, Santa Ana
Allegation: 0.10 Breath
Disposition: DUI dismissed; Wet Reckless plea
The results described above were dependent on the facts of each case. Results will differ if based on different facts. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
YOUR ATTORNEY
Your attorney for an Orange County case
Attorney Jeff Yeh focuses his practice on DUI defense and DMV hearings. He stays responsible for your case from start to finish, working with experienced co-counsel when a case calls for it.
Call (213) 446-2495 any time, 24/7, for a free consultation.
20+
Years of DUI Defense Experience
2,000+
DUI Cases Handled
COUNTY-WIDE QUESTIONS
Questions about the Orange County process
My arrest was in an area that is not a city, such as Coto de Caza. Which justice center applies?
I live outside Orange County. Can I still apply for an Orange County DUI Court?
Where can I look up an Orange County case number or court date?
Is there a DMV Driver Safety office in Orange County?
Some cities here have no police department of their own. Who patrols them?
If the court orders a DUI program, how do I find one in Orange County?
JUSTICE CENTER PAGES
Pages for three justice centers
Irvine DUI Lawyer
Irvine cases go to the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach; Irvine police, UCI police, and CHP arrests.
Fullerton DUI Lawyer
North Justice Center in Fullerton, shared with Anaheim and six other cities; court interpreter details.
Westminster DUI Lawyer
Cases at the West Justice Center in Westminster.
RELATED DUI DEFENSE
DMV Hearing
Ask for a hearing within 10 days of receiving the DMV notice, which is usually given at the arrest.
Drug DUI
Cases involving cannabis, prescription medication, or other drugs.
Underage DUI
Drivers under 21, including zero-tolerance license cases.
ABOUT THIS PAGE
Prepared by the Law Office of Jeff Yeh (Attorney Jeff Yeh, State Bar of California No. 240430), 3810 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.
Last updated: September 29, 2026. The local facts on this page were checked against the official sources listed here on that date.
Reviewed by Attorney Jeff Yeh on October 6, 2026.
This page is general information about California DUI cases, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court locations, phone numbers, and procedures can change. Check the official sources listed here or call us.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- occourts.org: Court Designation List, effective June 30, 2025 (PDF)
- occourts.org: Locations
- occourts.org: North Justice Center
- occourts.org: Central Justice Center
- occourts.org: Stephen K. Tamura West Justice Center
- occourts.org: Harbor Justice Center - Newport Beach
- occourts.org: Lamoreaux Justice Center
- occourts.org: Court Appearance (criminal)
- occourts.org: Informal Arraignment by Attorney
- occourts.org: Local Rules, Division 8 (Rule 856) (PDF)
- occourts.org: Collaborative Courts (DUI Court)
- occourts.org: DUI Court Applicant Info
- occourts.org: Court Interpreter Information
- occourts.org: Limited English Proficiency Plan, revised 2018 (PDF)
- occourts.org: Online Services
- occourts.org: Alcohol and Drug Program Information
- City of Anaheim: City Attorney FAQs
- City of Anaheim: Prosecution Division
- ocdistrictattorney.gov: Courts and branch offices
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department: North Operations
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department: Southeast Operations
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department: Southwest Operations
- California Highway Patrol: Santa Ana Area office
- California Highway Patrol: Westminster Area office
- California Highway Patrol: Capistrano Area office
- California DMV: Driving under the influence
- California DMV: Driver Safety administrative hearings, FFDL 26 (Rev. 4/2026)
- California DMV: Driver Safety portal
- California DMV: 32nd Annual DUI-MIS Report (PDF)
- ots.ca.gov: county results, 2023 crash rankings
- California Vehicle Code 13558 (DMV hearing request)
- California Penal Code 977 (version repealed as of January 1, 2032)
- California Vehicle Code 23103.5 (wet reckless; version repealed as of January 1, 2033)
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