Southwest Justice Center Visitor Guide

The Southwest Justice Center is located at 30755-A Auld Road in Murrieta. When you arrive, you will enter through the main entrance on the east side of the building. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early — the security line during peak morning hours (8:00–9:30 AM) can take 10–15 minutes.

You will pass through a metal detector and have your belongings screened by courthouse security officers. Leave all weapons, pocket knives, and prohibited items in your vehicle. Cell phones are permitted but must be silenced before entering any courtroom.

Once through security, check the court calendar posted in the lobby or on the Riverside County Superior Court website to find your assigned department. Juvenile cases are heard in departments SJ-1, SJ-2, or S-203. Adult criminal matters are assigned to departments S-103, S-104, S-201, S-202, S-204, S-301, S-302, S-303, or S-304. If Attorney Cocis is representing you, he will meet you in the hallway outside your assigned courtroom.

Your first appearance is the arraignment — the formal reading of the charges against you. When your case is called, you and your attorney will approach the bench. The judge will read the charges, confirm your identity, advise you of your constitutional rights, and ask you to enter a plea: guilty, not guilty, or no contest.

In most cases, Attorney Cocis will advise entering a not guilty plea at the arraignment. This is a strategic decision — it preserves all of your rights and gives your defense team time to review the prosecution's evidence before making any commitments. The judge will then set bail conditions (or release you on your own recognizance) and schedule your next court date.

At the SWJC, arraignment calendars are typically heard in the morning. Because Attorney Cocis appears in these courtrooms weekly, he knows the specific judges, their scheduling preferences, and how to navigate the calendar efficiently — often reducing your time waiting in the courtroom.

After the arraignment, the case enters the discovery phase. This is where Attorney Cocis obtains and reviews all of the prosecution's evidence — police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, lab results, and any other materials. This phase is critical because it reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the case against you.

During this period, pre-trial conferences are scheduled at the SWJC. These are hearings where your attorney and the prosecutor discuss the case, negotiate potential plea agreements, and address any pre-trial motions (such as motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges). Attorney Cocis's 25+ years of weekly presence at the SWJC means he has established professional relationships with the Riverside County prosecutors assigned to this courthouse — relationships that can be leveraged during negotiations.

Many cases are resolved during the pre-trial phase through negotiated agreements, charge reductions, or dismissals. If the evidence is weak or was obtained improperly, Attorney Cocis will file the appropriate motions to challenge it before the case ever reaches trial.

If your case is not resolved during pre-trial negotiations, it proceeds to trial. At the SWJC, jury trials for criminal matters are conducted in the assigned department. Attorney Cocis will present your defense before a jury of your peers, cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses, and argue for your acquittal.

However, the majority of criminal cases at the Southwest Justice Center are resolved before trial — through dismissals, charge reductions, diversion programs, or negotiated plea agreements that minimize the consequences. Attorney Cocis's goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome at the earliest possible stage, whether that means a full acquittal at trial or a favorable resolution that keeps you out of jail and protects your record.