The Glendale Courthouse is the Los Angeles Superior Court branch that handles misdemeanor criminal, traffic, and limited civil cases arising in Glendale and its surrounding foothill communities.

Located at 600 East Broadway in downtown Glendale, it is the home court for KN Law Firm, APLC — our main office sits less than a mile away on North Central Avenue, and attorney Chris Nalchadjian appears in its departments on a weekly basis.

If you have received a citation, been arrested, or are scheduled to appear at the Glendale Courthouse, the information below will help you prepare.

Courthouse Information

Field Details
Official Name Los Angeles County Superior Court – North Central District – Glendale
Address 600 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206
Phone (818) 265-6400
Hours Monday-Friday, 8:15 AM – 4:30 PM
Parking No public lot — street parking only (metered and free nearby). Paid parking is available in the structure on Brand Boulevard adjacent to the courthouse.

Case Types Handled

The Glendale Courthouse is a limited-jurisdiction branch. Cases filed here fall into several categories, though serious felony matters are sent elsewhere for further proceedings.

Criminal Cases

The Glendale Courthouse handles misdemeanor criminal matters including DUI, reckless driving, petty theft, shoplifting, simple assault and battery, trespassing, public intoxication, vandalism, domestic violence misdemeanors, and weapons possession charges below felony thresholds. The courthouse is well-known for its relatively high volume of DUI arraignments given the density of Glendale’s entertainment and restaurant corridors.

Traffic Cases

Traffic infractions and misdemeanor traffic violations — speeding, running red lights, driving without a license, driving on a suspended license, and traffic-related reckless driving charges — are adjudicated at Glendale in a dedicated traffic department.

Civil Cases

The Glendale Courthouse handles limited civil matters including small claims actions, unlawful detainer (eviction) cases, and civil harassment restraining order petitions. Larger civil matters are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

Other Case Types

The court also hears domestic violence restraining order requests, civil harassment petitions, and workplace violence restraining orders.

Court Departments

The Glendale Courthouse is compact and organized around a small number of departments. Each courtroom is identified as a “Department” and has its own calendar and assigned judge.

Department Case Types Notes
Department 1 Criminal (misdemeanor arraignments, pretrials, trials) Primary criminal calendar
Department 2 Criminal (overflow, sentencing, probation violations) Shares caseload with Dept 1
Department 3 Traffic Infractions and misdemeanor traffic matters
Because the courthouse is small, departments can share work and judges occasionally rotate. Always confirm your department number from your paperwork or check the lobby posting on the day of your appearance.

Cities Served by Glendale Courthouse

The Glendale Courthouse handles cases arising in the following communities:

  • Glendale
  • La Cañada Flintridge
  • La Crescenta
  • Montrose

If you’ve been cited or arrested in any of these areas, your misdemeanor or traffic case will be filed at the Glendale Courthouse. Felony arrests from these same communities will typically be filed here initially for arraignment but then transferred to Burbank for preliminary hearing.

What to Expect at the Glendale Courthouse

Arriving at the Courthouse

The Glendale Courthouse sits on the north side of East Broadway between Louise Street and Isabel Street, across from Glendale High School. It is a modest three-story municipal building — smaller and less imposing than county courthouses like Pasadena or Van Nuys. The main public entrance faces Broadway.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appearance. Morning arraignment calendars start at 8:30 AM, and the security line regularly backs up between 8:00 and 8:30. Once through security, head to your assigned department and check in with the courtroom clerk or bailiff.

Parking Information

This is the single most important thing to know about the Glendale Courthouse: there is no public parking lot. You will need to find street parking nearby, and availability is tight on weekday mornings.

Options include:

  • Metered street parking on East Broadway, Isabel Street, Louise Street, and Jackson Street. Meters typically require payment during business hours and often have 1- or 2-hour limits — not long enough for a typical court appearance.
  • Free residential street parking a few blocks north of Broadway, though posted restrictions vary by block. Read signs carefully.
  • Glendale Galleria parking structures — a short walk south of the courthouse, generally with the first 90 minutes free (confirm current policy before relying on this).
  • Rideshare drop-off on Broadway directly in front of the courthouse is the simplest option for many clients.

Plan to park farther away than you expect — assume a five- to ten-minute walk — and build that time into your arrival plan.

Security Screening

All visitors must pass through a metal detector and bag X-ray at the main entrance. Prohibited items include weapons, knives of any size, pepper spray, lighters with exposed flame mechanisms, and large tools. Phones are permitted but must be silenced inside courtrooms. Bring only what you actually need — larger bags slow down screening for everyone.

Tips for Your Court Date at Glendale Courthouse

Before Your Court Date

  • Confirm your department number (1, 2, or 3) from your paperwork — asking at the clerk’s window on the day of can cost you time
  • If you drive, plan to arrive by 8:00 AM to secure parking, even for a 9:00 AM calendar
  • If your case is a first-time DUI or minor misdemeanor, talk to a criminal defense attorney before your arraignment — many first appearances here are where important plea decisions get made
  • Review any paperwork the arresting officer gave you and bring it with you

What to Bring

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Citation or notice to appear
  • Any documents related to your case (insurance cards, proof of class completion, character letters if sentencing)

What to Wear

Business casual is the standard. Avoid shorts, tank tops, athletic clothing, flip-flops, and anything with offensive graphics or slogans. You will not be thrown out for wearing jeans, but judges notice when defendants take their appearance seriously.

Courtroom Conduct

  • Turn off your phone entirely before entering — not just silent
  • Remove hats (unless religious)
  • Stand when the judge enters and when your case is called
  • Address the judge as “Your Honor”
  • Don’t chew gum, don’t interrupt, and don’t argue with the bailiff

Felony Case Transfers to Burbank

A particular feature of Glendale Courthouse that clients should understand: felony cases do not stay at Glendale. While initial felony arraignments may be heard here, preliminary hearings and any subsequent felony trial proceedings are transferred to the Burbank Courthouse, which handles felony preliminary hearings for the entire North Central District. From Burbank, if held to answer, felonies may then transfer again to Pasadena for trial.

This multi-court pipeline is important because it means your felony attorney needs to be comfortable practicing at all three locations and coordinating across them. When we represent a Glendale-area felony client, we plan for the full trajectory from the outset.

Criminal Defense at Glendale Courthouse

KN Law Firm, APLC is based in Glendale, and the Glendale Courthouse is effectively our home court. We know the judges, deputy district attorneys, clerks, and investigators who work in this building, and we know which approaches succeed with which bench officers. That familiarity matters on a wide variety of matters we handle here every week.

We represent clients at the Glendale Courthouse facing charges including:

View all practice areas

Contact Us About Your Glendale Courthouse Case

If you have a case at the Glendale Courthouse, contact KN Law Firm, APLC today for a free consultation. Attorney Chris Nalchadjian has extensive experience representing clients at this courthouse — his office is located a short drive away, and he understands the local court system and the prosecutors who handle cases here.

Call us 24/7: (888) 950-0011
Contact us online for a free case evaluation.

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