Building Accommodations:

The main entrance is located on the north or front side of the court building. Wheelchair ramps are located to the left and right of the main entrance. Entry doors are not equipped with handicapped door activation buttons. A secondary entrance for staff and jurors is located on the south or rear side of the building. This entry is located at ground level and no wheelchair ramp is required to access the entrance. Doors are not equipped with handicapped activation buttons.

All individuals seeking entrance to the facility must pass through security screening which includes metal detectors (magnetometers) located at the north and south entrances. These devices can accommodate average sized wheelchairs. Individuals with pacemakers or cochlear implants may request screening via a hand held wand from security screening personnel.

Wheelchair accessible public restrooms are located on all four floors of the court facility. All restrooms have wheelchair accessible stalls and sinks. Restroom entrances are not equipped with handicapped door activation buttons. A wheelchair accessible restroom is also located on the lower level in the jury assembly room.

A wheelchair accessible drinking fountain is located in the east hallway on the first floor near the lobby.

Smoke detectors and fire alarm systems are equipped with strobe lights.

Elevator cabs are equipped with Braille signage and emergency call features to accommodate those with seeing and hearing impairment.

Courtroom Accommodations:

The Southwest Justice Center is a four-level building that houses 13 courtrooms: Departments S101, S102, S103, S104, S201, S202, S203, S204, S205, S301, S302, S303, and S304. All courtrooms have wheelchair accessible counsel tables. With the exception of Department S205, all jury boxes and witness stands are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair seating areas are located in the audience section of each courtroom.

Assistive listening devices are available for hearing-disabled individuals.  Individuals anticipating the need to use hearing assisted devices are requested to notify the ADA Coordinator’s Office by completing Judicial Council Form MC 410 and submitting the form to the Court's Human Resource Department as far in advance of the court date as possible and in any event no less than five (5) court days prior to the hearing.

If a printed transcript of a court hearing is required, please make arrangements to purchase one from the court reporter.

Individuals in need of sign language interpreters may request assistance through the Court's Human Resource Department.  Individuals may request Computer Assisted Real-Time Transcription or CART assistance through the ADA Coordinator’s Office by submitting Judicial Council Form MC 410 to the ADA Coordinator in as far advance of the court date as possible and in any event no less than five (5) court days prior to the hearing. Generally, sign language interpreters and CART reporters are provided to facilitate a hearing disabled individual's participation in court proceedings, but they may be permitted to accompany an individual at other times to facilitate communication in court matters.

Clerk’s Office Accommodations:

The clerk’s office is located on the first or main floor of the building and is accessed by the north or main entry. Public service counters as well as agency counters are lowered to accommodate customers in wheelchairs. The public service counter in the adjacent Family Law Assistance Center also has a lowered counter available. Wheelchair accessible tables for filling out forms are located in the Self-Help Center located adjacent to the main clerk’s office and the Family Law Assistance Center. A speech-generating device (NEO Text2Speech) is available upon request at any customer service window. Magnification devices are also available upon request to facilitate reading smaller print on court forms.