CAL.Regulation
California bars civil arrests at courthouses and within 1,000 feet of them
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 873 on September 29, 2026. Civil Code section 43.54 bars civil arrests at a courthouse, including public ways within 1,000 feet, and of people traveling to or from one for lawful activity; arrests under a valid judicial warrant are exempt. Violators are liable for false imprisonment or false arrest, with actual damages plus $10,000 in statutory damages. Court security must ask entering officers for identification, purpose and a judicial warrant.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
Key points
- Bars civil arrests at courthouses and while traveling to or from them for lawful activity.California Legislative Information
- Presumes lawful activity; judicial warrants are exempt.California Legislative Information
- Violations are actionable as false imprisonment or false arrest with $10,000 statutory damages.California Legislative Information
- The protected zone extends 1,000 feet around the courthouse.California Legislative Information
- Takes effect January 1, 2027; the Judicial Council must report civil-arrest statistics by county each year.California Legislative Information
Sources2 articles across 2 outlets
California Legislative Information
Office of the Governor
Filed under
RegulationCal.SB 873 — Courthouse Civil Arrest ProtectionsCivil rightsImmigrationLitigationPublic safetyFor practitionersFor governance