On Wednesday, the San Joaquin Superior Court in Stockton was abruptly closed due to a bomb threat, halting all court-related activities. The threat was reported shortly before 10:30 a.m., leading to an evacuation of the courthouse as a precautionary measure. San Joaquin Superior Court officials advised the public to avoid visiting the courthouse at the address of 180 E. Weber Ave for the day. "The court has received notice of a threat to the Stockton Courthouse," officials said in a public announcement. The court's website relayed a message confirming the closure and indicated that the courthouse would resume operations the following Thursday. This information was detailed in a report by The Sacramento Bee.
The Sheriff's Office took immediate action to swiftly and efficiently to ensure the safety of the courthouse staff and visitors. "We take all threats seriously and are fully committed to a thorough investigation," the sheriff's office stated in a release covered by CBS News Sacramento. Although the nature of the threat has not been disclosed, the security concerns were significant enough to prompt a complete evacuation of the building.
The San Joaquin Superior Court, which also operates the Juvenile Justice Center and a court facility in Manteca, confirmed that only the Stockton location was affected by the threat. The other facilities remained open and operational. Alongside the incident in Stockton, another event occurred on the same day—an explosion at a courthouse in Southern California that injured two individuals. Officials said the Santa Maria explosion seemed to be an intentional act, with a man detained in connection with the incident, as reported by CBS News Sacramento. However, authorities have not drawn any public connection between the two events.
As reported by ABC10, the courthouse will remain closed for the remainder of Wednesday. Measures are likely in place to assess and to securely clear the building before it reopens. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, responsible for managing the immediate response, has not provided any additional details regarding the threat or their ongoing investigation into the matter. Community members are encouraged to stay clear of the area and await further instructions from law enforcement and court officials.
