Appearance is everything

Have you ever had to go to court to watch a friend or family member appear before a judge? Have you ever had to wait for your own appearance?

Either way, typically defendants are ordered to appear at 9 a.m. but rarely actually deal with a judge at that time.

Now, Orange County Superior Court officials, with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, are working to make that wait shorter, or even disappear.

Court and sheriff’s officials unveiled their newest courtroom Wednesday morning, and it’s housed right inside the Central Jail Complex in Santa Ana.

Instead of driving to the courthouses in Santa Ana or Newport Beach, among others, some defendants can now make an appearance there, saving time and money for everyone.

The courtroom even features a separate room for the public to watch the proceedings, in accordance with state law.

For more photos, click here.

— Joseph Serna