The Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, located at 210 West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles, is the principal felony courthouse for the Los Angeles Superior Court. It handles felony arraignments, preliminary hearings, and trials from most of the central and east Los Angeles area, and is the home of the Los Angeles County District Attorney downtown bureau and the Los Angeles County Public Defender main office. While most misdemeanors in central LA are filed at the nearby Metropolitan Courthouse, Foltz CCB hears felony cases, including wobbler filings, that originate in central LAPD divisions. The Law Office of Zak Fisher represents people with cases at Foltz CCB across the full range of misdemeanors and other criminal charges.
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Foltz CCB at a glance
- Address: 210 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Court: Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District (Criminal)
- Phone: (213) 974-6111
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Felony arraignment calendar typically begins at 8:30 AM.
- Named for: Clara Shortridge Foltz, the first woman lawyer on the Pacific Coast, who lobbied for the creation of the public defender system.
- Parking: Limited courthouse parking; numerous paid lots within walking distance. Public transit via LA Metro B and D Lines (Civic Center/Grand Park Station) and many bus routes.
- Security: Standard courthouse security screening. Larger building with multiple courtrooms and Departments numbered in the 30s and 40s for felony arraignment.
Areas served
Foltz CCB handles felony cases from most LAPD bureau areas in central and east Los Angeles, including:
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Hollywood
- Mid-Wilshire, Koreatown
- Echo Park, Silver Lake
- Boyle Heights, El Sereno (some cases)
- Northeast LA (Lincoln Heights, Atwater, Highland Park)
- South Los Angeles (some cases; many go to Compton Courthouse)
Cases heard at Foltz CCB
Foltz CCB is principally a felony courthouse. Most misdemeanors from central LA are filed at the Metropolitan Courthouse (1945 S Hill St) rather than Foltz. Foltz handles:
- Felony arraignments in Departments 30 and similar.
- Preliminary hearings under PC §859b.
- Felony trials for cases held to answer at preliminary hearing.
- Felony pretrial motions (PC §995, §1538.5, Pitchess, etc.).
- Wobblers initially filed as felonies, even where the defense ultimately seeks reduction under PC §17(b).
- Sentencing for felony cases.
Foltz vs. Metropolitan Courthouse
For central Los Angeles cases, the courthouse depends on the level of charge:
- Foltz CCB (210 W Temple St): Felony filings from central LA.
- Metropolitan Courthouse (1945 S Hill St): Misdemeanor filings from central LA, including most DUI, drug possession, theft, battery, and disorderly conduct cases from LAPD Central, Rampart, Hollywood, and Olympic Divisions.
Common case types at Foltz CCB
- Felony DUI (VC §23153, §23550): Injury DUIs and fourth-or-more DUI cases.
- Felony drug possession with intent to sell (HS §11378, §11351, §11352): Sales and transportation cases.
- Felony assault (PC §245): Assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
- Felony domestic violence (PC §273.5): Corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.
- Felony criminal threats (PC §422): Strike-eligible felony filings.
- Felony vandalism (PC §594): Damage $400 or more filed as a felony.
- Robbery (PC §211): Including Estes robbery filings.
- Felony evading (VC §2800.2)
- Resisting by force (PC §69)
What happens at a Foltz felony arraignment
Felony arraignments at Foltz CCB typically occur in Department 30 (or designated arraignment courts), generally beginning at 8:30 AM. The court reads the complaint, advises of constitutional rights, addresses bail (often at a much higher level than misdemeanors), and sets a date for preliminary hearing (statutorily within 10 court days of arraignment for in-custody defendants under PC §859b). Felony defendants must personally appear at most stages; PC §977 limited appearance waivers are much more restricted in felony cases.
After arraignment, the case moves to preliminary hearing under PC §859b, where the prosecution must establish probable cause to bind the defendant over for trial. A defense motion to dismiss at preliminary hearing under PC §995 (after preliminary hearing) or under PC §17(b) (to reduce a wobbler to a misdemeanor) can dramatically change the case posture.
How the Law Office of Zak Fisher handles Foltz CCB cases
Cases at Foltz CCB begin with a free 20-minute consultation to identify the charging statutes, the LAPD division, and any prior record that affects bail and exposure. If the case is taken, the fee is flat and quoted in writing before engagement. Early steps in felony cases include obtaining all discovery (bodycam, dashcam, witness statements, lab reports), assessing wobbler-reduction strategy under PC §17(b), and preparing for preliminary hearing within statutory deadlines. The practice personally appears at every Foltz calendar date and answers texts and emails within one business day.
Contact
Law Office of Zak Fisher
8335 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 354
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (310) 818-7461
Email: info@zakfisherlaw.com
Hours: Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Book a free 20-minute consultation
Frequently asked questions about Foltz CCB
Where is the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center?
210 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, in downtown Los Angeles near the Civic Center. It is the principal felony courthouse for the Los Angeles Superior Court Central District.
What types of cases are heard at Foltz CCB?
Felony criminal cases, including arraignments, preliminary hearings, motions, and trials. Most central LA misdemeanors are filed at the Metropolitan Courthouse (1945 S Hill St) rather than Foltz.
What is the difference between Foltz CCB and Metropolitan Courthouse?
Foltz handles felonies; Metropolitan Courthouse handles misdemeanors. Both are Los Angeles Superior Court Central District branches. A wobbler can be filed at either depending on whether the prosecutor charges it as a felony or misdemeanor.
What time should I arrive for arraignment at Foltz?
Felony arraignment calendar typically begins at 8:30 AM. Arrive by 8:00 AM to clear security and find the assigned courtroom (usually Department 30 or similar).
Can my lawyer appear for me at Foltz?
Felony defendants must personally appear at most stages, including arraignment, preliminary hearing, plea, and sentencing. Limited appearance waivers under PC §977(b)(1) are available in some pretrial settings with a written waiver.
Who was Clara Shortridge Foltz?
Clara Shortridge Foltz was the first woman admitted to practice law on the Pacific Coast (1878) and a major advocate for the creation of the public defender system. The courthouse was renamed in her honor in 2002.
Is there parking at Foltz CCB?
The courthouse has limited on-site parking. Numerous paid lots and structures are within walking distance in the Civic Center area. Public transit via the LA Metro B Line (Red Line) and D Line (Purple Line) at Civic Center/Grand Park Station is also convenient.