Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and State law require all state and local government agencies, including the courts, to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. The ADA helps people who are involved in court activities, programs, and services. In 1996, the Judicial Council of California, which makes policies for the courts, adopted California Rule of Court 1.100 to make the ADA work in the state court system.

The Superior Court works hard to make sure that all qualified people with disabilities have equal and full access to the judicial system. The Court has appointed an ADA Coordinator at each Court facility to help each facility follow the requirements of the ADA.

Under the ADA, State law, and court rules, a person is entitled to an accommodation if they have a disability. This means the person has a physical or mental problem that limits one or more major life activities.

Service animals are allowed in court facilities. The ADA defines service animals as dogs or miniature horses that are trained to do work or tasks for people with disabilities. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices get in the way of the service animal’s work, or if the person’s disability stops them from using these devices. In this case, the person must keep control of the animal with their voice, signals, or other effective ways. Service animals can go to all areas of the court where people are allowed.

Request for Special Accommodation

People with disabilities who need special accommodations can ask for the needed accommodations by filling out the Judicial Council form MC-410, Request for Accommodations by Persons with Disabilities and Response form.
Note: If you have more than one court case, you must submit a separate MC-410 form for each case.

Requests for accommodations must include a description of the accommodation requested, along with a statement about the disability that makes the accommodation necessary. The Court can ask for more information about the disability if needed.

The Court must keep all information about the applicant’s request for accommodation confidential, unless the applicant agrees to share the information in writing or the law requires the information to be shared. Confidential information includes all medical details and any communication from the applicant about the request for accommodation.

Forms are available under the Related Information links on this page, at the Clerk's office, or by mail upon request. The completed form must be submitted to staff in the courtroom, at the public counter, or mailed to the courthouse.
Note: Please allow 30 days for processing your request.

ADA Coordinator Information

The Court has assigned an ADA Coordinator at each Court facility to ensure the facility follows the ADA rules. For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact the ADA Coordinator at the appropriate courthouse.
Jurors: Please contact the Jury Services Office at (909) 884-1858.

Services Provided

The accommodation by the court will last for the time stated in the response to the request for accommodation. The accommodation may last for an unlimited time, a limited time, or just for a specific matter or appearance. Current services offered include:

Assistive Listening System (ALS)
Portable Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) are available and can be requested from courtroom staff or the ADA Coordinator at the facility.

Interpreter Services
If you need a sign language interpreter, you can ask courtroom staff or the ADA Coordinator at the facility for help.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)
CART Service is available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and can be requested from courtroom staff or the ADA Coordinator at the facility.