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Which Jurisdictions In Los Angeles File The Most Criminal Cases?

Posted by Ronald D. Hedding, ESQ. | Oct 10, 2018

Los Angeles is a huge metropolis. It stretches from Long Beach all the way back across to Lancaster. You have cases that are part of LA County, located in Valencia and Pasadena. There used to be the Malibu court and the LAX court, so you have a huge area where criminal cases are filed across Los Angeles County. As for where the most crime occurs, there are several different courthouses.

The DA's office, when they file these cases and the police officers who are arresting people – the statistics go up and down – but I can tell you some of the big courthouses where there's a lot of criminal cases filed – would be no. 1, downtown Los Angeles. This is not just a courthouse, it's the main hub courthouse in Los Angeles County, a place where the most significant legal battles are fought.

Thousands of cases are filed there every year. That's where the main DA's office is. Most of the judges are centered around downtown Los Angeles, a place where the legal system is constantly in motion, dealing with a high volume of cases.

Pomona and Norwalk Courthouses

It's interesting because certain types of criminal cases are filed and prosecuted more aggressively, depending on where you are. In the north end of the Valley, the San Fernando court files a lot of drug cases, and they also file a lot of sex crimes, showing the serious approach of the legal system towards these offenses.

Downtown Los Angeles seems to file a lot of business ordinance-marijuana type charges, where people are not following the rules as far as having marijuana businesses downtown Los Angeles. These cases are typically prosecuted by the City Attorney's office. There are also numerous drug cases filed in downtown Los Angeles.

Another courthouse that experiences a lot of activity, despite being in a relatively isolated area, is the Compton courthouse. They don't mess around in that courthouse. They're very harsh on crime. Why? I don't know. It could be for a variety of reasons, but maybe one of the biggest reasons is they've got a lot of crime there – a lot of cases moving through there that they have to contend with.

DUI Cases in Burbank Court

So, depending on where your case is, you're going to want to talk to an attorney who knows that courthouse. I've worked in Burbank, for example, which handles a significant number of DUI cases in that courthouse, as well as numerous theft-related offenses from the various merchants in the area. So, you have to know these courthouses.

I worked for a Superior Court Judge in Burbank, so I have some familiarity with handling their cases and understanding the types of cases they typically file. Obviously, my office is close. One of my Encino offices is conveniently located near Van Nuys and San Fernando, so we conduct a significant amount of business there. And of course, downtown being such a huge courthouse – I've done thousands of cases there over the last twenty-five years, so I know these various courthouses.

I understand how prosecutors feel about certain types of charges, which is important. Additionally, I am aware of the volume of cases that LAX court handles, which is substantial. The main reason you wouldn't know is that it's located right in the middle of a lot of population. However, many of the courthouses are being closed down, so those cases have been transferred to the LAX court.

For example, Malibu was closed down. Beverly Hills was closed down. Hollywood was closed down, so all these cases are being transferred to the LAX court, which is one of the newer courthouses built within the last decade. It can house a large number of inmates and is well-equipped to handle a high volume of cases, allowing it to file a significant number of cases. This consolidation of cases in the LAX court has significantly impacted the distribution of cases in LA County.

Obviously, the crime statistics relate to the number of cases that will be filed in Los Angeles County. Suppose the courthouse is located in a jurisdiction with a high incidence of crime, and the police are readily available to handle cases. In that case, you can expect a significant amount of criminal activity.

There are about twenty-five courts in Los Angeles County. Some of them don't handle much action, while others handle a lot of action. The level of action in a court depends on various factors such as the level of crime in the jurisdiction, the type of police presence, and how prosecutors handle these cases. These factors play a significant role in determining the distribution of cases in Los Angeles County.

About the Author

Ronald D. Hedding, ESQ.
Ronald D. Hedding, ESQ.

Ronald D. Hedding, Esq., is the founding member of the Hedding Law Firm. Mr. Hedding has an extensive well-rounded legal background in the area of Criminal Law. He has worked for the District Attorney's Office, a Superior Court Judge, and as the guiding force behind the Hedding Law Firm. His multi-faceted experience sets Mr. Hedding apart and puts him in an elite group of the best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Southern California.

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