The Sonoma County Courthouse Is Moving: How to Find Your New Courtroom
If you have a criminal, traffic, or juvenile case in Sonoma County, there's a good chance your hearing is no longer in the courtroom printed on your paperwork. The court is moving into a brand-new Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa, and courtrooms are changing on a rolling schedule through the summer of 2026.
Showing up at the right building on the wrong floor is an inconvenience. Showing up on the wrong day, or missing your hearing entirely, is a much bigger problem. This post explains what's changing, when, and how to find where you're actually supposed to be.
This is general information, not legal advice. Court operations change, so always confirm your date, time, and courtroom against your hearing notice and the court's daily calendar before you go.
The short version
The court has opened a new Hall of Justice at 625 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa — a six-story building on the county government center campus, right next to the old courthouse at 600 Administration Drive.
Cases are moving over in phases between late July and early August 2026, not all at once.
Courtroom numbers have changed completely. The old system used department numbers (D1, D8, D12). The new building uses courtroom numbers where the first digit is the floor — Courtroom 41 is on the fourth floor, Courtroom 63 is on the sixth.
Separately, the Criminal Division moved to a Master Calendar system on June 1, 2026, which changed how hearings are assigned to courtrooms in the first place.
Put those together and the courtroom listed on paperwork from earlier in your case may be wrong twice over.
When each type of case moves
When each type of case moves
The transition is happening in three waves. Find your old department number below to see where your case is now heard.
Monday, July 20, 2026 — Traffic
D10 / D11 (Traffic) → Courtroom 11
Monday, July 27, 2026 — Misdemeanors, juvenile, probate, and mental health
D8 (Misdemeanor) → Courtroom 41
D7 (Misdemeanor) → Courtroom 42
D10 (Care Court / Civil) → Courtroom 43
D6 → Courtroom 44
D5 (Juvenile Dependency) → Courtroom 61
Presiding Judge / Drug Court → Courtroom 62
D15 (Probate) → Courtroom 63
D12 (Mental Health) → Courtroom 64
Monday, August 3, 2026 — Felonies and the Master Calendar
D1 (Felony) → Courtroom 51
D3 (Felony) → Courtroom 52
D2 (Felony) → Courtroom 53
D4 (Felony) → Courtroom 54
D9 (Master Calendar) → Courtroom L1
D15 (Master Calendar) → Courtroom L2
Until your case type's move date, your hearing is still in the old building. After it, you're in the new one.
What's on each floor
The new building is organized by case type, which makes it easier to navigate once you know where you're headed:
First floor — public counter, self check-in, and traffic court
Fourth floor — misdemeanors, treatment courts, and conservatorship matters
Fifth floor — felony hearings, law and motion, and jury trials
Sixth floor — juvenile dependency, drug court, probate, and mental health
Electronic monitors in the building display the day's schedule, including courtroom assignments.
The Master Calendar changes things too
As of June 1, 2026, the Criminal Division runs on a Master Calendar. Designated Master Calendar judges handle the in-custody and out-of-custody arraignment calendars, which are set for 1:30 p.m.
The practical consequence: your hearing location and appearance time can change, sometimes on short notice. A courtroom number that was correct when your case started may not be correct on the day you appear. This is exactly why the court asks people to check the daily calendar rather than rely on older paperwork.
How to find your courtroom on the day
Check the court's daily criminal calendar — online, or posted at the courthouse. The courtroom is listed at the top.
Go to the right building. Before your case type's transition date, that's 600 Administration Drive. After it, 625 Administration Drive.
Arrive early. Everyone entering passes through security screening, and lines are longest before morning calendars.
If you have an attorney, call them first. Confirming your location is a two-minute phone call.
Why getting this right matters
Missing a court date is not always treated as an honest mistake. When someone fails to appear, the judge can issue a bench warrant for their arrest, and a warrant creates its own set of problems, including the possibility of being taken into custody during an unrelated traffic stop.
During a courthouse transition, there is a risk of confusion. If you go to the wrong building and realize your hearing already started, don't leave. Go to the correct courthouse immediately and check in with the clerk. Being late and present is a far better position than being absent.
Frequently asked questions
My notice says Department 8. Where do I go? After July 27, 2026, misdemeanor matters previously heard in Department 8 are in Courtroom 41, on the fourth floor of the new Hall of Justice. Confirm against the daily calendar, since Master Calendar assignments can move.
Is the old courthouse closed? The old building at 600 Administration Drive remains in use for court offices, and some case types are still heard there until their transition date. It is no longer the courtroom building for case types that have already moved.
Did the address number change? Yes. The new Hall of Justice is at 625 Administration Drive, next door to the old one at 600. Both are on the county government center campus, so the drive is the same — the entrance isn't.
What if I show up in the wrong courtroom? Ask the clerk or a bailiff. Court staff are dealing with this daily during the transition and can direct you. Don't leave the building without checking in somewhere.
Facing a court date in Sonoma County?
A courthouse transition is a bad time to navigate the system alone. If you have an upcoming hearing and aren't sure where you're supposed to be — or what's supposed to happen when you get there — Chambers Defense offers a free, confidential consultation.
Call 415-849-7676 today.