Social Media Cases (JCCP5225): Information for the Public
A trial is currently underway for Social Media Cases (JCCP5255) in Department 12 on the first floor of the Spring Street Courthouse, located at 312 N. Spring St., with the Hon. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl presiding.
Please see below for the rules and guidelines on how members of the public may participate in a public lottery to obtain a seat in the courtroom, effective Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
- Beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, the Court will conduct a public lottery for 15 public seats in Department 12 on each day inside the Spring Street Courthouse on the first floor in a designated hallway. Signage designating the section for the public lottery will be displayed. The lottery is being held for public seats. All approvals for courtroom seating in Department 12 for the media have been distributed by the Court’s Communications Office. No further requests for courtroom media seating will be accepted.
- Lottery tickets will be distributed from 7:30 to 8 a.m. on the first floor of the Spring Street Courthouse in a designated area. Please note that tickets do not guarantee a seat in the courtroom.
- 15 seats will be allocated through the lottery promptly beginning at 8:05 a.m. Ticket holders must be prepared to standby in the hallway for numbers to be called. Lottery winners will be issued tickets, which must be shown upon entry to the courtroom.
- The winning tickets are non-transferrable. Anyone who attempts to transfer their entrance pass to another individual will not be permitted to participate in the public lottery.
- Proceedings are scheduled to begin as early as 8:30 a.m.
- Seat holders must be on time or risk losing their seat.
- No photography, video or recording is allowed in any courtroom or courthouse hallway or lobby at any time, including the use of cellphone to capture pictures, video and audio recordings. Please refer to Local Rule 2.17 and the Court’s General Order 2023-GEN-003-00 regarding Use of Cameras in the Courthouse.
- Cellphones and electronic devices must be shut off and kept out of sight. No electronic devices may be used in the public seating area in Department 12.
- The Court has ordered that jurors remain anonymous. No one may photograph, take any recording of or use facial recognition regarding any juror or alternate juror. Do not approach or interact with jurors or with any individual who has a juror badge. Interfering with the jury may result in being held in contempt of court.
- Any person who is seated in the courtroom must remain silent throughout proceedings and may not, through facial expression or otherwise, indicate any reaction to the evidence or to any proceedings.
- There is no eating, drinking or chewing gum allowed in the courtroom. Hats must be removed.
- Members of the public are also instructed to follow the Court’s General Order 2023-GEN-005-00 on Expressive Activity which restricts demonstrations, distributions, solicitation and other expressive forms of activity both inside courthouses and near courthouse entrances.
You can view the full notice here.
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