Superior Court of California, County of Riverside - Southwest Justice Center — Local services in Murrieta

Even during this crazy pandemic this courthouse is ensuring everyone’s safety and service. This is a somewhat lengthy review in two parts, but I feel it’s all worth mentioning as our justice center workers are doing their best to assist our community.

Part 1: Today, I was reporting fo jury duty a few days early due to work circumstances. After waiting in line at the front of the courthouse, an officer and clerk exited and asked if anyone was there for traffic violations. Once a few people identified that that was the reason they were there, the officer informed them that they needed to schedule online or call in. One man became very disgruntled and angry about not knowing about these protocols and proceeded to insult the clerk about this lack of communication/knowledge. I was impressed at the officer’s calm and concise behavior to deescalate the situation: he told the man that this is the information they have for him and to please not insult the clerk when she is simply telling him how to proceed. Although the man was still upset and started to leave the line mumbling under his breath about this “bulls*,” this officer and clerk maintained their composure and ensured everyone was being assisted.

Part2: Once I reached the clerk I informed her that I was there to serve jury duty. She informed me that I needed to go to the back entrance to the courthouse and I was on my way. Once the kind security guard let me through I went into the jury assembly room only to find no one there. No clerks or other jurors. I was a little surprised, but given that it was a Friday I figured it was just a slow morning. After waiting a few minutes I went back to the security guard and asked if there were any jury clerks that could help me because no one was in the room. He immediately called someone to assist me and told me to wait in the assembly room. I was barely waiting 5 mins when a woman appeared, Hailey Erickson, the division manager, wow! I told her I was there to try and serve my jury duty a few days early and she tried calling for a clerk. After a few minutes she informed me that since I had been waiting since 7:30, that I could leave and they would call me when the clerk arrived to let me know whether I needed to come back and serve. After all that, I was out of the courthouse by 7:58 and felt these people were working hard and doing there best to accommodate everyone. Thank you Southwest Justice Center, you all are doing...

Simply put, it's like the DMV, only worse.

Reported to Jury Duty on a Monday. Reported in the morning with many others. Check-in kiosks worked for us in the beginning but I noticed later they weren't working. Some vending machines worked. The woman in charge of calling out the names made no effort to pronounce people's names properly and thought it was just delightfully amusing. In other words, she was in full IDGAF mode. Of course, I don't blame her. What a miserable place to work. She has to find humor somewhere, even if it's at the expense of others.

Due to a trial which was going to go for a few weeks, it explained why so many people were summoned. In fact, a whole group of people were coming in at noon to be added to the jury pool from the morning.

The jury pool room was crowded and hot. The instructions were not clear and confusing (which courtroom did you say? You said one number in one sentence and then another number in another sentence).

A true cluster F, but expected.

I'm a firm believer in Rule of Law and the justice system. However, the court system runs like every other government agency...inefficient. (ever see the movie 'Brazil'?)

Regardless, I checked my attitude at the door and showed as much respect to the folks in the courthouse, and most importantly, the judge. Remember, "Your Honor" is the judge's name. Don't be a wise guy and try something different. Court is serious and they don't mess around. You're not going to get away with giving attitude to a court staffer like you would give attitude to a fast food worker.

Anyway, I know it can be a different experience for everyone. My wife reported to Jury Duty here last year and she did not have as horrible as an experience as I did.

Hoping others will have a better experience than I did. And hoping my next time won't be so bad.

Tips: Don't park in the back of the building. There's public/jury parking in front of the main entrance. Free parking so you don't have to sweat it.

Bring something to eat and drink. The vending machines are not reliable.

Get ready to be bored and frustrated.

Like the judge who came down to greet the prospective jurors said, as U.S. citizens, we're not required to serve in the military. And we're not required to vote. But serving as a juror is the one requirement of all citizens as laid out in the Constitution.

Something to keep in mind while you're...

I have spent many hours there helping a friend who had mental illness take care of her past misdeeds. Yesterday was my first time, as a Plaintiff. I filed the required forms and included a Federal Court Order awarding me $3,000 from another individual. The judge at the beginning of the days proceeding explained to everyone HIS rules in his courtroom., Nothing out of the ordinary. One statement he made clear to everyone was that, ".... Everyone will be given plenty of time to present their case no matter Plaintiff or Defendant. The Defendant not appear. I then was asked to present the facts and supply substantial proof to support my claim with evidence. I never got that chance. He was never able to complete one sentence due to the fact he constantly interrupted me. I was never given a chance to present details, backed by hard evidence. He was arrogant, disrespectful, condescending in his tone accenting his constant interruptions. He had made up his mind before I uttered my first word, not one time giving me time to exlain what, to me read that even a remedial reader could interpret my SC-190 and included Federal Court Order granting a Motion by a Federal Judge, in a Federal Court, that the Order was granted based on any violations the Defendant had committed under Federal law. Regardless, when ush came to shove he dismissed the case. I new he was So wrong, so today I researched what he based his dismsss on, and it doesn't exist! With No legal grounds to dismiss a case without good cause based on law, he grossly erred in his decision. He was arrogant and VERY condescending in his tone and speach when addressing me. He clearly does NOT belong on the bench as he is ignorant of what constitutes and award VS a judgement, and he SHOULD have known that because in 1990 and again in 2015, two suits in CA set president stating, " when a court in CA, no matter what level, orders an an AWARD of funds, for ANY reason, or other definition, the Court Order of those funds shall be treated equally in nature, and in the same way as is an Order of Judgenent.

The judge in erred Big Time and should be reviewed by his non partial peers and removed from the...