California Supreme Court to Close Los Angeles Clerk’s Office

San Francisco – Chief Justice Ronald M. George has announced that the California Supreme Court will close its satellite Clerk’s Office in the Ronald Reagan Building at 300 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, at the close of business effective December 31, 2009.

The decision to close the office was made for budgetary reasons, following a review of the work processed by the office and the cost of operations.

“The Supreme Court regrets making this decision, but it is important during tough economic times to carefully scrutinize the court’s filing practices and procedures and find cost savings and efficiencies where possible,” stated Chief Justice George. “I give many thanks to our Los Angeles employees who staff the Clerk’s Office for their loyalty and dedication to excellent public service.”

The Los Angeles Clerk’s Office is staffed by a supervising deputy clerk and two deputy clerks. Like the court’s headquarters office in San Francisco, the Los Angeles office receives Supreme Court filings and documents from court users. After the initial case data is entered into the automated system, all case files and documents are shipped to the San Francisco Clerk’s office where additional clerical work is performed before the cases are assigned to the court’s legal staff.

Effective January 1, 2010, all petitions for review, writs, and legal briefs must be filed directly with the Clerk’s Office at the Earl Warren Building, First Floor, 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco. The closure of the Los Angeles Clerk’s Office will not change the Supreme Court’s practice of regularly holding oral argument in Los Angeles (typically in April, June, October and December).