So this review IS NOT FOR THE SERVICES provided in this building;this review is for the outside of the court house/courtyard. I grew up around this area and I would occasionally go their to hang out or go to the library. Yesterday was my first time going back their in years and I forgot how beautiful and calm this area is. Pros: *a lot of shade *beautiful scenery(Rose's plants, trees, architecture, etc.) * a lot of places to sit down * it's a good place to go read, do h.w, meditate, etc. Cons: * the outside of it is dirty it needs to be cleaned * the library is being remodeled which is good but bad. IT WILL reopen in the summer of 2020 P.S DONT GO TO THE HOT DOG STAND ( THE STREET VENDOR) THE LADY IS REALLY RUDE AND ITS OVERPRICED AND THE FOOD IS NOT WORTH IT. GO TO read more

Man, I hope my Lord and savior Jesus Christ that i never have to come back to this nightmare of a Courthouse ever again. The Sheriffs here are assholes. I am a guy that never bitch and complain about police, because I support the Blue and White flags, but the last time I was at this Courthouse, the Sheriffs were not helpful at all in giving directions to where I needed to be. I used to live in the San Fernando Valley, and this Courthouse was a slum, now they fixed it all up and its a normal building to walk inside. Judges and Lawyers here are not very friendly. Its almost as if these people are looking to look anyone up for a petty crime, or a infraction. A few years ago, I was summons to come here as a witness of a fight that took place among some people I know. This is just a bad place to be. read more

The customer service is excellent. Going inside was a metal detector and the security guard were good. We went through and waited to get to the court room. I was waiting to testify for my friend and was thinking at least a 3 hours but ending up 6 hours. The wood benches were uncomfortable. We were going back and was late but was patient. I highly recommend this place. Kindness Forward. read more

As a disabled litigant and key witness in multiple proceedings at the Van Nuys Superior Court, I was shocked by the ongoing failure to provide basic ADA accommodations. Staff--including courtroom personnel and clerks--routinely spoke over me, dismissed my requests, and even mocked my condition. My cognitive impairment was ignored, despite medical documentation and formal Rule 1.100 requests. In one incident, I was denied the right to fully explain critical witness information in a felony case involving Electra Schrock, despite having submitted a declaration months prior. The public defender, court staff, and judicial officers disregarded my participation, potentially violating both the ADA and Electra's due process rights. This courthouse needs immediate oversight for disability rights compliance. No Californian should be treated this way in a place that claims to uphold justice. read more

Ppl work here lunch time is maybe over 2 hours. Last time and this time in charge person on lunch break. How long? No one else can help me..? Government works.. lame. read more

life is too damn short for people that has an attitude with you for no reason. I went to window 10 for traffic reasons, I was informed that i got a ticket in 1996 that's on my background, I went to chatsworth courthouse,but they told me to come to the van nuys cause they have a criminal section for traffic ( I DDNT KNOW THAT). Any the gentleman told me to go to the criminal section i did , they lady was rude or had a attitude, like wth, i told her my situation an she told me you should go to window 1-10, i said no ma'am i just came from there an they told me to come here. Mind you there was another lady who she was training, a she looked perplexed like wow. then she said well if i don't see a ticket then.... I Stated well is there anything you can print out for me to let my business partners know that i have no traffic citation or violations etc. She did an i even informed her thank you so much i truly appreciated. read more

Such great service!! I would give 10/10 if I could! We got married at the can Nuys court house and everything went so smoothly! Although I had a miscommunication via phone the representatives were there to help especially Augusto. He went ABOVE AND BEYOND helping us with everything, from the ceremony to all the paperwork. Highly recommend to get married there and just having the process there! The ceremony was also very emotional and decorated in such a cute way. Thanks again to Augusto who helped in the most amazing way. read more

I'm sorry I must write this, but people need to be warned about the small claims court Judge Richard Walmark on the third floor, department P. Judge Walmark will spend the majority of court time, 3 hours out of 4 available, to talk about himself and other nonsense. He leaves no time for claimants, keeps them waiting for four hours, just to send them home and reschedule to return in a couple of months. I had to return to his court several times (two cases) and got an eyeful and understanding of his philosophy. He tries not to make any decisions, as he put it, he has a low I.Q. He is more compassionate to defendants, and it's clear he doesn't want plaintiffs to get justice. So if you are a plaintiff who has been robbed, with plenty of evidence, he will show more compassion for the thief. He says plaintiffs shouldn't dwell on losses because a lot of horrible things could happen, and should be grateful. Then why go to court? He also said that there should be a system where claimants can resolve their issues outside of court, so judges don't have to make decisions. He doesn't realize there's already a mediation process, and people try to resolve before going to court. He is unable to read and evaluate documentation. He is a bitter man who used to serve in the higher courts but was demoted to small claims, therefore, he is on a power trip. I believe he enjoys injustice hidden behind compassion for the less fortunate. If you are a plaintiff who can get back money lost from mischief, avoid this Judge Richard Walmark's courtroom. Justice will not be served. If you go to the records office and tell them this judge didn't give you five minutes after wasting several hours on gibberish, or just one claim, they already know and advise you to submit a complaint. How is the government allowed to do this to taxpayers? read more

The worst courthouse ever Be prepared and always take a receipt of payments you make here I wasn't and now they trying to double charge me claiming they don't have a record of my payment Which was in cash Still waiting for the call from the supervisor Especially now during a pandemic, I have to pay 400 more for the charges I paid already Just be aware guys read more

Thus court has a Great Staff and are awesomely friendly! The Baliff in division B on the 7th Floor...Totally Rocks! The Foxy Judge us Awesome too!!!! read more

Van Nuys Courthouse West - My Buddy the Baliff... - Courthouses Near Me - Van Nuys, California

--Atmosphere & Hours-- I don't come here often, I've come here just a handful of times for perhaps a driving violation in my younger years and jury duty. The experience is no fun by any means, but it could be worse. The setting is overall pretty decent where this courthouse and the east one and various other buildings are situated on some decent grounds where you can roam about, sit, and admire things and people watch. You will go through a security checkpoint so there will be certain items you can't take (check the court site). There's bathrooms on each floor here and a small snack store on the ground floor. Right outside of this structure is some sort of traffic ticket machine where I suppose you can deal with tickets? The courthouse is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Clerk's Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except court holidays. Wi-Fi is non existent basically. --Where to Park--- There's a parking structure located on Sylmar and Delano where the public can park for a fee ($10 daily I believe). If you've been summoned here for jury duty, just show the attendants your juror badge and parking is free. The lot closes at 7pm. Also, right across the parking structure there is another public parking lot (not affiliated with the courts). Nearby streets have metered parking as well. --Spending Time & Food--- There's a library across this court here to spend time at besides just roaming around, and walking distance to here are an abundance of stores, eateries and restaurants, so just head to Van Nuys Blvd. You'll find anything from Subway to Mexican restaurants, American and more. In the plaza area, there's also a food cart, and vendors selling things. To name a few food options: *Happy Dogs - A food stand serving hot dogs, sandwiches, melts, breakfasty items, fries, onion rings, etc *Los Tres Hermanos - Mexican restaurant serving tacos, enchiladas, various combo plates, and the like. Similar to a El Torito. *Plancha Tacos - A Mexican eatery serving tacos, burritos, bowls, and salads *Farm Table - An oasis among this part of Van Nuys serving wraps, panini's, coffees and baked items, soup, salad, and burgers. ---Court Website-- Check out the site to answer any questions you may have and find out info before you make your way here. http://www.lacourt.org/courthouse/info/lav read more

You may be wondering about why I would be writing a review for this. Maybe, because I'm here to help. Which rhymes with Yelp. I've done jury duty twice here and have been called an additional 3 times. They cull data based on voter registration and DMV info. The 3 stars are not for the facility, the experience or the 15 dollars you will make a day. They are for the inconvenience that you will experience. Word to the wise;when you get your notice you can not change the location but you can change the date...1 time. In a six month window. I suggest Thanksgiving week(which worked wonders for me) or Christmas week depending were it falls. In the vetting process, getting out of duty seems to revolve around hating Police or loving them. It's a maddening process. Civic duty. read more

I suppose your experience here is dependent on what side of the law you're visiting for. I found the parking super easy, the building well maintained and all of the staff professional. read more

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If you are here, something went wrong! Everyone around/in this building is annoyed, angry, most times hungry! Take the warning! Long lines, long waits are expected but a clerk sending you to DMV twice (because they requested the wrong paper from you) in one day is not right!!! No attempt on expediting anything here!!! Can't come in and out of this place...expect to spend good part of your day here...bring a snack and a jacket...they crank up the AC like an Alaskan winter. read more

Always takes about 4 hours just to get into my court house and dont tell nobody nothing about how long they gunna take

Went here for a Civil Wedding for some friends on a Friday and it was super busy. There was a wait time and the place seemed a bit rundown hence I knocked off one star. The clerk and the judge were very nice though and the process was quick since an appointment was made. The happy couple was in and out in no town, I would totally recommend! read more

FIX IT TICKET? Here's the quickest way to get through this place! 1. Get there early. The traffic windows open at 7:30, not 8:00. I got there right at 7:45 and there were about 5 people ahead of me. They have 11 windows dedicated to traffic, but most of the window clerks don't show up until 8 am, and then they aren't ready to accept people for another 5 - 10 minutes. Only 1 window is open in the beginning. Start here and when they tell you to go to the Sheriff's Dept for inspection, ask if you have to stand in line again. They should issue you a pass that will allow you to cut to the front of the line. You'll need it as the line fills up quickly upon return from inspection. Otherwise, you'll be there for 3 hours. 2. Take the 5 extra minutes to find the inspection station behind the courthouse. Park towards the back of the courthouse because that's where your car needs to be inspected. If you can park across the street from the inspection location, you might even be able to have them walk there so you don't have pay for parking twice. In fact, even better would be to have someone come with you and just stay in the car with a copy of the ticket or the ticket itself. They only inspect every half hour, so getting through that first window in half an hour is important. Otherwise, you'll be there for an extra half hour waiting for inspection. You'll have to go back in to pay for the Sheriff's inspection afterwards, and then go back up stairs to pay for the actual ticket. 3. Bring cash. The Sheriff's dept only accepts Cash or Checks... They have an ATM machine there, but for quickness and not adding a step, have cash on you. Be nice... dress respectful, flash a smile, and everyone will be extremely nice, from the metal detector officers, to the window clerks, to the inspection officer. It took me just under 2 hours, but if I had known the process, I believe I could've gotten through this around 1 - 1.25 hours, as I went to the wrong building initiallly, had to wait extra in line because I wasn't earlier, had to walk aaaallllll the way back to my car, repark it, etc. Overall... as far as courthouses go, it was about as good an experience as you could have. And Danny Trejo was there... Mr. Machete himself, who couldn't be nicer I might add. read more

Worst service ever since you never get any. I have a specific question but since no one every actually answers the phone in the traffic office (even during traffic office phone hours) I will now have to take the day off work, drive 40 min and come stand in a long line at the court to ask my question. Online ticket service is useless and so are the court employees. Glad to see my tax dollars at work. I was put on hold every single time I called during call hours and after holding for 30 min the system hangs up your call. Something must be done. They are not working and get paid to do so. read more

Van Nuys Courthouse West - After putting you on hold for 30 min they hang up on you every time. - Courthouses Near Me - Van Nuys, California

A few weeks ago I was ticketed for "not stopping all the way at a stop sign." After the 2 week mark, I started trying to call in to request traffic school/pay my fine. Every. Single. Time. I called the number on my ticket, the number either did not ring at all, or it was busy. I tried calling other numbers at the court house to see if they could transfer me. Two kind commissioners did (Thank you Nancy & Dennis), but once transferred, the phone rang for 3 minutes, no one ever answered, and it disconnected at the 3 minute mark. This is inexcusable. With my court date now days away, I thought I was going to have to take off work to show up at the courthouse myself. After reading previous reviews that mentioned "tickets cannot be handled online," I had to double check. This is 2015 people. After a few seconds of Googling, here is my gift to you: http://www.lacourt.org/online/traffic http://www.lacourt.org/division/traffic/TR0100.aspx There is the website where you can look up your ticket and 1) Pay it. 2) Request an extended court date. 3) Request Traffic School. 4) Make a reservation for a court date Arraignment. This was my first ticket ever, so the traffic school option popped up for me. I paid everything with a credit card online, printed my receipt, and BAM. Finally done. It would be nice if the LA Court would think to put this web address on the back of future tickets so people can save their time AND the court's time by handling everything online. I hope this review will help someone avoid dealing with that hellish phone number, or having to show up in person. Update: Like others mentioned, I received a jury summons shortly after posting this negative review, so that might be a thing they do intentionally. Review 'em honestly anyway! read more

Let's face it, if you're at the courthouse, you're not there to have a good time. Went to pay a simple ticket this morning and it was super easy. I got there at 7:45 on a Thursday morning, went through security, went up the escalator on the left, and stood in line. A whole 4 people were in front of me... I thought there was going to be a line out the door as other yelpers had mentioned - guess I just got lucky! I got a ticket for driving with expired insurance, so I was just there to show my current insurance card. Cost me $25 and I was in and out in roughly 20 minutes. Take note: if you can not prove you have valid insurance, the cost is $910! So I think I got off easy. Overall, I paid for my mistake with very little hassle. No worries. Helpful tip: Park in the meter-parking spaces off Delano St. - $1 will get you 1 hour which is the max time it lets you park there. Take the walkway to the left of the dirt-area, and it's the building on your left with the rounded entrance. read more

I had a fix-it ticket to get validated and so the closest courthouse to me was this one. I got there at 6:45 AM because I wasn't sure how lines would be and I've heard horror stories of LA courthouses.. so needless to say, I got there early thinking I could be out of there ASAP. There is a public parking structure which is like $7, but I was lucky to get a 10 hr spot next to the building for $4. NOTE: the website says they open at 8:00 AM, but they actually open at 7:30 AM. First, I went to the 2nd floor for my traffic ticket and then they informed me I needed to go back outside and around the building to the vehicle station checkpoint and wait for a sheriff to come out and inspect my car. The told me I had to actually pull up to the station in my car, but I refused to give up my precious 10 hr spot that I already paid $4 for. The other stupid thing is that the vehicle checkpoint doesn't even open till 8 AM! So I had to wait 30 minutes outside for the sheriff to come out. Once he came out, I told him I had parked down the street and didn't want to have to look for parking again so he was actually nice enough to walk to my car to inspect it. He signed my ticket and then walked me back to the courthouse and directed me to go to the sheriff's office to get a certificate and pay $17 for the inspection. At least he was sweet. I walked back into the courthouse and then lo and behold, the sheriff's office doesn't open till 8:30 AM! So I waited another 25 minutes for them to open... Finally paid & got my certificate and then walked back up to the 2nd floor to turn in all my papers. The courthouse itself is pretty clean, but I just didn't like their system.. it's unclear on where to go and what to do - and the women that work there aren't the nicest either. The men were A LOT more helpful and nicer that's forsure, but maybe because I'm a girl? Whatever! I was just annoyed that I had to wait around an extra hour because all of their office times are different. Needless to say, I hope to NEVER have to go here again. read more

My actual jury duty experience was fine with no complaints. I was however, disappointed to see the trash that was spewed all over the courtyard. All the trash cans were full and overflowing and trash building up all around the base of the cans. The sidewalks were dirty. Landscape was neglected. It was depressing, read more

This courthouse is beautiful and more modern than others in Los Angeles County. But parking is a nightmare, and the court staff are generally rude, impatient, and not empathetic or sympathetic at all. Luckily the large glass pane windows on each level keep you from feeling like a caged animal in here. read more

Okay so judging a courthouse will always be a somewhat difficult task. I only give three stars because I usually give more but there's never anything pleasant about having to be in court. Though no matter where I go usually people are friendly with me including court. They have a decently run security line to get into the place and let me say this...if you ever need to come here on your own and not at a specified time...hold off until around 230 or so...the place turns into a ghost town. The morning traffic in this place is redonkulous! The line is so bad just to get in the building people are taking smoke breaks in line...c'mon peeps...I can't make this stuff up! Lol. Unfortunately for me I've had to come here a million times for a thousand reasons and every courtroom is handled a little differently but my favorite was the bailiff from traffic citation arraignment court. He is no joke about the rules of the courtroom but everything out of his mouth was hilarious...I thought it was staged for a second there. Also if you're in a courtroom and find yourself thinking...this is going to take longer than the one hour I put in the meter OR you're in a one hour spot only...DON'T TRIP...you can come and go as you like and I'm pretty sure in that amount of time they haven't called you yet...or if they have once they will again...TRUST ME! I got a ticket one day and that was for being 3 minutes late! Handle you're business yelpers and you won't have to end up like me. :-) read more

It took all morning to get through to the traffic clerk. Due to budget constraints they don't have anyone answering their phones. They mess up my record and then I suffer. I finally got through to someone at the traffic clerks office. My trick call in to a different number at the court house and ask to be transferred. The best way is to call a commissioner at the court house. I a was on the phone for 25 mins. They finally helped me. The dismissed a ticket that they were suppose to 1 year ago. They are sending me a new trial by declaration to complete for another ticket. Let's pray and hope that everything is resolved so my driving record can be cleared with the dmv and I can get a refund from my insurance. read more

This IS NOT a sarcastic review. I feel like I should say that up front. Went here for a ticket arraignment a couple weeks ago and had the time of my life! First off, it runs like clockwork, the employees know the drill so you get in and out very quickly. The employees spend their entire day dealing with idiots who all think they shouldn't be there and mostly deserve to be there. They don't put up with anyone's crap and it's awesome. The commissioner was not messing around and scolded a lot of people- who completely deserved to be scolded. Guess what, when they tell you not to plead your case, and you walk up to plead your case, and they yell at you- you SHOULD be yelled at!! How selfish and stupid are you that you think you're above the rules? Man, it was so much fun watching this room full of entitled law breakers get indignant! People were coming out swearing, yeah, everyone in that room is innocent! Sure... Well, maybe you shouldn't have run that red light, dumbass! I have to pay a crazy expensive ticket and I'm not even mad. I'm not kidding, I'm going to go back just to watch all these morons who can't follow instructions get yelled at. When they tell you to sit in a specific seat and you sit in a different seat, yeah, um, you should have the officer roll his eyes at you and tell you to move. You're dumb! I love this place!!!! read more

TIPS FOR GOING TO TRAFFIC COURT I suggest parking on Erwin about a half a block west of Van Nuys. It is only $5 for the entire day in a nice parking lot. And it is a really quick walk into the mall of government buildings. You'll recognize the courthouse because of the line outside! I arrived just before 8am. The line outside wasn't too bad when I came, but when I left around 8:30, it was getting a little crazy. Security is fast, but they are strict. They will not throw anything away for you, so don't bring anything into the building that is questionable. You will have to go outside to throw something bad out, and that means going to the end of the line. Not good! Traffic counters are on the second floor. But be prepared to talk to someone and just end up coming back again. At the traffic counter, they probably won't help you settle anything. They gave me a court date for a few months from now. If I do trail by declaration, the decision comes in 60 days. I'll probably lose anyways, as the clerk told me the paperwork I have is irrelevant to my ticket, so I'll probably do the trail by declaration to get this resolved faster. Good luck with your cases, everyone! read more

No huge novel to write about the Van Nuys Courthouse other than they need to open up more windows on the 2nd Floor. I had to pay a fix-it ticket and needed to go to any of the 18 windows upstairs. I made the mistake of going right after lunch time and had to wait around for 90 minutes because they only had 3-4 windows open for a line that snaked all the way to the escalators. So ... not anything out of the ordinary from a courthouse. Long lines. Pissed off patrons. Equally pissed off workers working the windows. Just make sure you bring a book to read or make sure you download some games on your phone ... because you'll need something to pass the time. read more

Be sure to leave your pepper spray in your car! The X-ray even found a wine corkscrew in my purse that had been forgotten about since summer. Luckily, we joked about my items before leaving them outside. Everyone was friendly and the service was fast. There is even an informational tent set up near the library if you are unsure about which building to go into. Even got a tip: When going to traffic school, do not pay for the expedited service. The courts look at the date of completion because it is sent electronically not via mail. read more

Does anyone ever like going to court? Well aside from the lawyers and other people who are employed there, that is. I don't think so. It had been a long time since I had been here, and I was entering from the other side, however it does not seem like a whole lot has changed. I was surprised to see that the outside of the courthouse has become like a mini flea market with vendors selling their wares. I found this odd, but to each their own I guess. Anyway, this is definitely a place that I could say I would not want to go back to.. but unfortunately I know I will be back. :-( read more

So far my experiences there have been good. I've only visited where the clerks section and the self help center. The self help center is such a good idea to have. i would have been totally lost in filing out my divorce papers if it wasn't for their help. Try to get there early so you can be one of the first to be seen. everybody is really nice and very patient with you. and they explain everything about the process really well. Robby is the best and is so on point , I've never seen someone multitask so much in an office like place! so far so good. watch out for parking. me sure to put enough credit on the parking meters if you park outside on the street!! read more

Judge Richard Walmark is hands down the worst unjust judge that exists in Small Claims Court in Van Nuys. My mother had a horrific experience with dentist Dr. A Fard. He gave her 6 substandard caps (most were likely not even necessary). It has cost her tens of thousands to replace and repair the damage this dentist caused. She took him to small claims to recoup what she paid him for the substandard caps and care. The reimbursement she was seeking was within the the small claim court cap of $10k even though the cost to repair the damage was three times the cost. My mom had written assessment from 4 separate dentist who each, independently confirmed that the work done by Dr. Fard was below the standard of care. She filed a claim with the Dental Board of California which is undergoing investigation. Dr. Fard lied on the stand claiming the board had closed the claim (until now the board is still investigating and has not closed the claim). My mother presented all of her evidence to the Judge Walmark. What more can a person offer? It was clear that Judge Walmark was acquainted with the Dr. Fard from previous times. Even with all of the evidence, 4 separate dentist assessment, 1 hygienist assessment, AND a written document from the Dental Board of California that the case was still pending which proved that Dr. Fard lied under oath... Judge Walmark favored with the dentist! We later learned that nobody who has filed a claim against a dentist in Van Nuys has ever won... what is the point of the small claims court if the plaintiff has no chance of a fair hearing and outcome because the dentist will always win in this court house? It is extremely unjust and certainly against the entire principle of small claims. Judge Richard Walmark has poor judgement. Complete travesty of justice. I would not recommend his court house to seek impartial justice or his friend Dr. Fard for dental care. read more

The the Van Nuys Courthouse always closes early 4:10 p.m. 4:20 and don't understand why even though they're supposed to be open until 4:30

OMG the lines are super long and the staff size is super small. It would be helpful for them to help the unemployment level go down and hire some people to make the lines go by quicker and the service be more efficient. Once you're at a window, all is good. It's just getting there that sucks more than going to the DMV. read more

Hopefully you never have to go to the traffic line here. As an insurance professional, I occasionally have to retrieve and review records here. There is no "special" line for insurance persons, only attorney's. The masses of people who are in the regular traffic line clog up the system and there are only one or two clerks to assist, at most. I had to return twice to the court just to retrieve and review one small file. They could not seem to remember to call me once they located the file either!! Very inept and unprofessional, even for the county courts in a budget crisis. The photo depicted of the long lines is very accurate. If you come, allow at least 2.0 hours to wait. read more

What is there to say about a courthouse? I've only been here twice, once to support a friend and another to register for community service. I don't know how to rate a courthouse... no one was rude to me but I mean your at a courthouse it's not really suppose to be pleasant? I didn't wait long to register, close underground parking.... I would not chance it by parking on the street unless you have a lot of quarters, you WILL get a parking ticket!! Important thing to remember going in, these places are understaffed. Getting all huffy and obnoxious doesn't help you move faster in the lines be patient those people handling your crap want to go home too! read more

I got a ticket because of one broken front light. I already had the ticket signed off by CHP officer, and did not pay for the inspection and sign off. I heard I should pay more or less. The officer told me that I have to go to court to clear the ticket. The court is Van Nuys Court, I read a lot bad experiences there. My question is can I mail the ticket instead going to the court, but I don't know how much I have to write a check along with the ticket, where I can mail to? I am trying to call the phone # listed on the court website, unfortunately always busy all the time. I also check the LA website and found my ticket #, but no any info for mailing option. I need your help to deal with this kind ticket. thank you. read more

This place is absolutely horrible. I know it's court, but this place is the worst of all LA courts. I got arrested accused of shoplifting a $4 sandwich from Target. I was booked in jail and released, given 30 days of CalTrans work. That is completely ridiculous for a crime like this. Shortly after, I was involved in an auto accident and could not do the service. Also, there's an $80 fee. They charge you to perform free labor for them. I did however discover there was a way to get the $80 reduced to $20 (I'm on CalWorks and receive assistance on insurance). The woman in the community service office will completely deny this reduction, and then refuse to hear any more about it.So I decided to ask the judge about the reduction, as well as an extention for the accident. Well, I go to court again at 8am, and we're all told by sheriffs to have a seat. They will yell if you get up. Then, this lady, I assume the "public defender" will call you. Take one second too long to run to her, she snaps, talking at you like a child. I told her why i was there (cost reduction and time extension) and she tells me to pick one. PICK ONE?!? That is completely ridiculous. So i stand in front of the judge and she requests the extension, gives him my doctor's note, and I get my extension. I then begin to ask about the reduction, and the stupid woman yells "RETURN TO YOUR SEAT NOW". Almost all the employees here are barely capable of performing their jobs, and act like it is your fault. Screw this place. read more

A year ago I was approaching a stop light while driving. It was my first day of work (ironically!) after 4 months of intense job search, and being new in town. Of course I'm nervous, and I start blabbing to myself in the car (pathetically, like in movies) and grabbed my iPhone to look at the GPS. Giving the impression that I was talking on the phone of course, I was stopped by a cop on a bicycle and was given a ticket for talking on my phone. Needless to say, after so many months without a job, I was broke; but I knew to plead Not Guilty was not an option. A month later, I had to leave town for a family situation. I've never been stopped by a cop before and have never had a citation in my life. Stupid me made the mistake of completely forgetting my appointment and not rescheduling it or anything. So when the day came that I I finally realized and made it to the court, the judge was piiiiiissed! I was given the option of paying $408 OR completing 51 community service hours. I decided I'd do the community service option. For this first visit to the courthouse, I went to Night Court, which means the Volunteer Work office was closed. Not knowing you're supposed to first go to that office for them to assign you an agency, I did my own online research and came across this website http://www.volunteerlosangeles.com and picked an organization that produces educational audiobooks for the blind and dyslexic. I felt it was a great and often ignored cause. From my job it was a real haul to make it there. In order to do volunteer service, I had to train on how to use the organization's computer software and it was a whole ordeal, very much like training for a job. I get off from work at 7PM, and the organization closed at 10:30, so it was quite stressful to make it on time to do 2 hours. I spent quite a few Saturdays pretty much all day to fulfill the hours. Not only all this, but I really REALLY earned the hours. I worked HARD. 2nd visit to the court, on March, when I go to submit my letter and itemized document showing dates, times and hours fulfilled, SIMPLY because it wasn't an official document from the court and I chose an agency that *they* didn't assign me (BUT THAT REGULARLY TAKES PEOPLE LIKE ME FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE!) the court staff decided I still had to pay or do community service hours. So after standing in line FOREVER just to get a huge undeserved NO, I had to get yet another court date to appeal to the judge and explain my case. 3rd and final court date was today. I get there at 8AM, go through the whole thing, just to basically hear the judge (a different one from the 1st visit) say it's not important and/or relevant and I have to do this ALL OVER AGAIN... She didn't even bother to look at my community service hours documents from the organization, nor my medical record showing I have 2 congenital back conditions (Lumbar Stenosis and Degenerative Disc Disease) for which I've had 2 surgeries (first one when I was 17) that limit the time I can spend sitting or standing without lying flat at work, in a car or any other activity. She did not blink, did not even consider looking at the evidence -- NOTHING. It was all done in a very factory-ish rhythm. Chop-chop! There's burgers to grill! When I told her I wasn't informed by the cashier that it had to be a specific agency assigned by the court she basically called me a liar, saying "Yes you were", as if the cashiers had mics on and she knew this *for a fact*. Angelinos can brat about a lot of things: great weather, great restaurant variety, great nightlife, great topography... But if you have never lived elsewhere in your life, you really don't know any better: Los Angeles has by far the worst developed and worst organized government agencies I've ever experienced. It also seems amazing to me that there is no true care for anyone and that the judges in this court think judging is like a fast food restaurant. There isn't the least amount of care for authentic justice. I get it: rules are rules, the law is the law. And precisely because of some peoples' inability to understand how to apply the law fairly we frequently experience people getting away with murder (often literally!) through technical little loopholes. Isn't that why we don't have robots doing tasks meant for reasoning humans? Shouldn't judges have a sense of judgement too? If the true purpose is to reach justice in its purest form, why not say: "Well, we can't prove this was authentic, so we will have someone from the Volunteering office investigate if this was really done as you claim." The organization where I fulfilled those hours HAS sign in sheets with my actual handwriting! No, I'm wrong. People like me are not worth the time investment. It seems someone has to be frikin' O.J. Simpson to get actual investment in an efficient sense of justice being applied. So Justice is "blind" when it's easier and smoother for the judging end. So thanks Van Nuys Courthouse for your mediocrity! read more

Of course this place is a dump and to come along with it has no parking near by and had horrible service. From the scam workers to the people you ask for directions. It's unfortunate that's our public services just like DMV has this negative stereotype and yet is quite true read more