Understanding the significance of local involvement in domestic violence cases is crucial. It involves an attorney who is familiar with the courthouse where your case is pending. This familiarity is vital because most courthouses handle a significant number of domestic violence cases.

When it comes to crimes that are charged in Los Angeles County, and probably across California, next to DUIs, domestic violence would probably be the number two charged crime.  In other words, people from all walks of life are committing these crimes.  You don't have to be a criminal to get into an argument with your significant other and for violence to erupt, and to get arrested.

There are many such cases that go through the courthouses.  Lawyers who are local to a particular courthouse are going to have a pretty good feel for what you're facing when you have a domestic violence charge in a particular courthouse with a particular judge being dealt with by particular prosecutors.  So, in my opinion, that's why it's so important to get a local lawyer.

Knowing Tendencies of the Prosecutor and Judge

You're also going to be able to avoid what I characterize as landmines when it comes to the defense of spousal abuse or domestic violence cases in the various courts throughout Los Angeles County.

What I mean by this is some prosecutors are extremely harsh when it comes to a domestic violence case. Obviously, you want to avoid those prosecutors because you're going to get hit with a much harsher punishment than somebody who's in front of another prosecutor. By having a local attorney, you can steer clear of these prosecutors, providing a sense of relief and reassurance.

As a domestic violence attorney, my role is to guide a case away from prosecutors who may be excessively harsh and unreasonable towards my client.  I've also observed that some judges in certain courthouses are not reasonable when it comes to domestic violence cases.

Obviously, you don't want to violate your probation in front of a particular judge who has the opportunity to hammer you with a very harsh sentence. So, having a local attorney, having somebody who knows the courthouse, is important.

So, when people come and sit down and meet with me, obviously, they're very worried and concerned about their domestic violence case and what's going to happen to them.  The good thing is that I've been practicing in Los Angeles County for so many years.

I've worked with the DA's office, I've worked with a Superior Court Judge, and I've been a criminal defense attorney for over twenty-five years now.  I have a pretty good sense of the judges, the prosecutors, and the entire system you'll be up against.

So, when you arrive, I'll be able to discuss that with you.  You're able to ask me questions — where's my case going to go?  What do you think about the prosecutors there?  What am I looking at?  I can give you a pretty good idea. This clarity can bring a sense of calm, as you know what to expect and how to navigate your case, providing a sense of ease and comfort.

When an attorney has handled hundreds of cases in a particular courthouse and interacted with the judge regularly, they begin to discern tendencies in the officials who will be handling your case. This insight is invaluable, making it advisable to hire a local lawyer.

If you've got a case in Los Angeles County, there are probably twenty-five courts now.  They've consolidated a lot of the courts.  Where there used to be forty, there are now about twenty-five.  Having practiced for many years, I've appeared in all of them, and I've a pretty good sense of how to handle a domestic violence case effectively. I understand what you're looking at and what can be done to help you navigate the system as quickly as possible.