Civic Center Courthouse Small Claims - San Francisco, CA

The small claims judge at the San Francisco court is the Honorable Michelle Tong. Judge Tong was elected to the Superior Court of San Francisco County in January 2021. Since graduating from McGeorge School of Law in 2001, Hon. Tong has served as a public defender and the Deputy Public Defender in San Francisco. Judge Tong endorses the SF Democratic Party and is an advocate of restorative justice.

The best place to park nearby is at the Civic Center Plaza Garage, open Monday through Friday from 5 am to 10 pm. See here for associated hourly costs. Additional parking is available at the Fox Plaza Lot and the UC Hastings Garage. The last options, located a slightly further distance away, include the Performing Arts Center Garage and Opera Plaza Garage.

The busiest time of day at the San Francisco Courthouse is around 10 am.

The San Francisco Courthouse is accessible via BART. The station closest to the courthouse is the Civic Center stop, located here. MUNI Metro also arrives at this same Civic Center station. There is a six minute walking distance from the station to the courthouse. In the greater Bay Area, BART connects with Caltrain, SamTrans, and Muni Buses.

The Civic Center courthouse is located on 400 McAllister Street, between Van Ness and Polk street. The building is directly across from San Francisco City Hall. The small claims department is located in Department 506. After passing through security, take the elevator up to the fifth floor and go towards your right.

For coffee, head to Peet’s Coffee on Van Ness Ave, CoffeeSmith, or Philz Coffee. For a quick bite nearby the courthouse, options include Mela Tandoori Kitchen and Gateway Croissant.