I've been involved with many jury trials over the years myself and I've also seen some very serious cases tried in the downtown Los Angeles courthouse in the last 26 years of practicing criminal defense.
The 9th floor is the main floor where most of the serious high-profile criminal jury trials are prosecuted in downtown Los Angeles. That is what they characterize as the long cause courtrooms, which is set-up for trials that are going to last a significant period of time.
If there's multiple defendants, if there's very serious charges, if there's security issues — whether it be because there are celebrities involved or some other situation where they want to have the utmost security, they will send the case to one of the courts on the 9th floor.
There is separate security when you get off the elevator on the 9th floor in the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. There's another metal detector in addition to the one at the front doors of the courthouse. They really take security seriously there.
There are a lot of bailiffs on that floor. The judges that are on that floor are pretty much tenured and have been there for a long time and know how to handle a high-profile case and know how to be efficient and deal with cases in a quick manner, and obviously, give people a fair trial.
Criminal Lawyer Who Understands the Jury Pool and Judges
So, if you or a loved one has a high-profile criminal case that's probably going to go to trial jury, it will probably be tried on the 9th floor, you're going to want a criminal defense attorney who has experience handling:
- jury trial on the 9th floor in downtown Los Angeles, and
- knows that jury pool there.
I think having handled many jury trials in the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, that courthouse is very fair as far as the jury pool. You get a good pool. It's not a conservative pool that's not going to be fair or reasonable.
I also think the judges are pretty fair, although there are exceptions and you obviously want to get an attorney like me who has been down the road that you or your loved one is about to travel, had success, knows the players in the system, knows what it takes to win a case.
When you're in a situation where you're trying a case, you're really not negotiating with anybody. You don't need to negotiate with anybody.
You are setting the case up to go to trial, so you have to figure out what witnesses you may or may not call, and obviously, the main thing you're going to figure out is how you're going to attack the prosecution's case in a jury trial situation.
Filing Motions in Your Criminal Case
That starts right from the beginning — from the arraignment, through the preliminary hearing, and ultimately, any motions you might file, and eventually ending in a jury trial.
It think the preliminary hearing when it comes to high-profile criminal cases in downtown LA is very important because it sets up the:
- trial,
- witnesses,
- their credibility challenges,
- your defense,
- your theory exactly how you're going to try your criminal case.
So, if you or your loved one is looking for a criminal defense attorney to try a case in downtown Los Angeles, you've come to the right place. I've handled over 200 jury trials.
I've had a lot of success. I know that courthouse very well. I know the judges and prosecutors — their tendencies — and I know what it takes to set up a defense in a criminal jury trial in downtown Los Angeles.
Call the Hedding Law Firm for Help
So, if you have a case and need help, pick up the phone. Make the call. As to speak to Ron Hedding. Set up a meeting with me.
Let's sit down and talk about the case. I will give you the pros and cons of going to trial.
I will give you my honest opinion, and obviously, the person who is ultimately charged with a crime and is looking at potentially doing time is going to be the one who makes the final decision.
This means on whether they really do want to go to trial, and if they do, how the case is going to be tried.
Obviously, that will be done in conjunction with my many years of experience on trying jury trials in downtown Los Angeles.