Your Court Visit
Please arrive at Court by 1:45 PM for your court visit. An Advocates for Children Supervisor will be here to direct you. You will be observing an entire afternoon and will likely hear both delinquency and dependency hearings. Court is adjourned by 5 PM.
Please dress as you would for a job interview. No jeans are allowed. Food, drinks and chewing gum are also prohibited in the court building. Since you will be entering the building through a metal detector, it’s best to leave all belongings in your car.
Once in the court room, the accompanying Advocate Supervisor will explain the proceedings to you. Please refrain from talking during the proceedings. The judge will likely ask if you have questions – don’t be afraid to speak up. If by chance, you know a family that is scheduled for a hearing that day, it is best to excuse yourself during the hearing.
Directions
The Juvenile Branch of the Court is located at:
222 Paul Scannell Drive (formerly 21 Tower Road)
San Mateo, 94402
If you are traveling north or south on Highway 101, take the Highway 92 West Exit towards Half Moon Bay. Continue west on Highway 92 to the Ralston Avenue Exit. Take the Ralston Avenue Exit. Turn right at the traffic signal at the end of the exit ramp onto Polhemus and get into the left lane. Paul Scannell Drive is just a short distance after you turn onto Polhemus. Turn left onto Paul Scannell Drive and follow it to the top of the hill. Parking for the Juvenile Court is on the right, in front of the Youth Services Center. Additional parking can be found on the left, across the street from the Youth Services Center.
If you are traveling north or south on Highway 280, take the Highway 92 East Exit towards the San Mateo Bridge. Take the Ralston Avenue Exit. Turn right at the traffic signal at the end of the exit ramp onto Polhemus and get into the left lane. Paul Scannell Drive is just a short distance after you turn onto Polhemus. Turn left onto Paul Scannell Drive and follow it to the top of the hill. Parking for the Juvenile Court is on the right, in front of the Youth Services Center. Additional parking can be found on the left, across the street from the Youth Services Center.
You will enter the building through a metal detector on the first floor and proceed to the second floor to the court rooms. An Advocate Supervisor will be there to direct you.