Los Angeles County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Los Angeles County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Los Angeles County.
Required Court Appearances in Los Angeles County
Any required court appearances in Los Angeles County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.
What is the Burden of Proof?
The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
Los Angeles County Criminal Court
Prosecutor in Los Angeles County
In Los Angeles County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Los Angeles County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent California. For the most part, the prosecutor in Los Angeles County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
Plea Agreements
A Plea Agreement, sometimes known as a Plea Bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant, where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest often in exchange for a lesser charge or lighter recommended sentence. A large majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. In Los Angeles County you can inform your attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to attempt to come to a plea agreement, but this is dependent upon the charge severity and also the prosecutors willingness to accept a plea deal.
Los Angeles County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
What is Jury Deliberation?
After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.
Where can I get help for my Los Angeles County criminal case?
The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Los Angeles County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.
What happens in Los Angeles County at an arraignment?
In Los Angeles County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
The Right to Counsel
The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.
Defendant Sentencing
At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.
Los Angeles County Criminal Court Locations
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Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 429 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
Phone: 213-974-6068 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 600 South Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90005
Phone: 213-351-8752 Fax: 213-351-2487 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 210 West Temple Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
Phone: 213-974-6141 or 213-974-6142 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 4848 East Civic Center Way, Los Angeles CA 90022
Phone: 323-780-2058 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 5925 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90028
Phone: 323-856-5747 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 1150 North San Fernando Road, Los Angeles CA 90065
Phone: 323-226-2917 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 1945 South Hill Street, Los Angeles CA 90007
Phone: 213-744-4022 (Criminal) -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central District
Address: 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
Phone: 213-974-5155 (Civil) Fax: 213-625-3244 (filings) -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central Juvenile District
Address: 1040 West Avenue J, Lancaster CA 93534
Phone: 661-949-6503 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central Juvenile District
Address: 1601 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90033
Phone: 323-226-8931 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central Juvenile District
Address: 201 Centre Plaza Drive, Monterey Park CA 91754
Phone: 323-526-6610 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central Juvenile District
Address: 110 East Regent Street, Inglewood CA 90301
Phone: 310-419-5684 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central Juvenile District
Address: 7281 East Quill Drive, Downey CA 90242
Phone: 562-940-7206 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central Juvenile District
Address: 16350 Filbert Street, Sylmar CA 91342
Phone: 818-364-2110 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – East District
Address: 11234 East Valley Boulevard, El Monte CA 91731
Phone: 626-575-4101 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – East District
Address: 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona CA 91766
Phone: 909-620-3023 Fax: 909-620-6547 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – East District
Address: 1427 West Covina Parkway, West Covina CA 91790
Phone: 626-813-3239 (Criminal) Fax: 626-338-9596 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – North Central District
Address: 300 East Olive Avenue, Burbank CA 91502
Phone: 818-557-3452 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – North Central District
Address: 600 East Broadway, Glendale CA 91206
Phone: 818-500-3516 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – North District
Address: 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster CA 93534
Phone: 661-974-7200 Fax: 661-945-8173 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – North Valley District
Address: 9425 Penfield Avenue, Chatsworth CA 91311
Phone: 818-576-8506 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – North Valley District
Address: 900 3rd Street, San Fernando CA 91340
Phone: 818-898-2401 Fax: 818-837-7297 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – North Valley District
Address: 23747 West Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita CA 91355
Phone: 661-253-7301 Fax: 661-286-1546 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Northeast District
Address: 150 West Commonwealth Avenue, Alhambra CA 91801
Phone: 626-308-5309 Fax: 626-570-4667 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Northeast District
Address: 300 East Walnut Avenue, Pasadena CA 91101
Phone: 626-356-5691 Fax: 626-568-3903 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Northwest District
Address: 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys CA 91401
Phone: 818-374-2208 (Civil Unlimited/Family Law) Fax: 818-779-7713 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Northwest District
Address: 14400 Erwin Street Mall, Van Nuys CA 91401
Phone: 818-374-2903 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – South Central District
Address: 200 West Compton Boulevard, Compton CA 90220
Phone: 310-603-7177 Fax: 310-639-8724 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – South District
Address: 215 Sumner Avenue, Avalon CA 90704
Phone: 562-256-2314 (Criminal) -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – South District
Address: 275 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach CA 90802
Phone: 562-256-2310 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Southeast District
Address: 10025 East Flower Street, Bellflower CA 90706
Phone: 562-804-8025 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Southeast District
Address: 7500 East Imperial Highway, Downey CA 90242
Phone: 562-803-7044 (Civil) Fax: 562-803-6392 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Southeast District
Address: 12720 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk CA 90650
Phone: 562-807-7266 Fax: 562-863-8757 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Southwest District
Address: One Regent Street, Inglewood CA 90301
Phone: 310-419-5132 Fax: 310-680-7055 (Small Claims only) -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Southwest District
Address: 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance CA 90503
Phone: 310-222-6500 Fax: 310-782-7326 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – West District
Address: 11701 South La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90045
Phone: 310-727-6100 (Felony) -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – West District
Address: 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills CA 90210
Phone: 310-288-1310 -
Los Angeles County Superior Court – West District
Address: 1725 Main Street, Santa Monica CA 90401
Phone: 310-260-1876 Fax: 310-576-1399