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Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer

Top-Rated Criminal Attorneys Specializing in Los Angeles County, San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley Courtrooms

If you have been arrested, then finding skilled legal representation is crucial to the outcome of your case. A conviction can lead to devastating life-altering consequences, such as loss of your employment and freedom.

As highly experienced criminal defense lawyers, we are dedicated to protecting your legal rights and freedom. We have litigated hundreds of criminal cases throughout Southern California and Los Angeles County for decades and handled the most difficult type cases.

Whether you were arrested for domestic violence, drug crime, theft crimes, murder, burglary, fraud crime, embezzlement, grand theft, or sex crime, our professional criminal attorneys will closely review the details of your case to provide honest advice moving forward.

Rated Top 5% U.S. Law Firm

Our top-ranked defense team of former Senior Los Angeles prosecutors specialize in providing our clients superior defense to all misdemeanor and felony criminal charges.

The defense lawyers are well known in the local criminal courthouses by prosecutors and judges for their experience, superior case results, and legal acumen. We have had countless notable courtroom victories in defending Criminal and DUI cases in Los Angeles courtrooms.

Our law firm partner, Dmitry Gorin, is a former Los Angeles prosecutor and UCLA professor. This means he has extensive knowledge on how a prosecutor will attempt to build a criminal case against a defendant and where they make common mistakes that can be exploited by the defense.

The Basics of California Criminal Law

Under California law, there are two main groups of offenses. A misdemeanors offense is punishable by up to one year in a county jail, and a $1,000 fine.

Some common misdemeanor crimes in Los Angeles include domestic battery, petty theft, violation of a restraining order, prostitution, DUI, disturbing the peace, driving on a suspended license, drug possession, trespassing and public intoxication. 

A felony offense is the most serious California crime. Felonies are describes as any crime where you can be sentenced for more then one year in jail, but some felonies can result in probation.

Some common felony crimes in California include robbery, attempted murder, murder, kidnapping, rape, child pornography, lewd acts with a minor, carjacking, manslaughter, and serious violent crimes.

There are also many California crimes that are known as a "wobbler," meaning the prosecutor has the discretion to file the case as either a misdemeanor or felony crime.

The factors that determine how the charges will be filed typically depend on the circumstances of the case and the prior criminal record of the defendant.

Some common "wobbler" crimes in California include burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, corporal injury to a spouse, and sexual battery. 

Our law firm partners and associates will personally litigate your case. We don't have case administrators preparing your case for court. You will speak to the defense lawyer who is handling your case and will receive regular updates on the status of your case.

Our Criminal Law Practice Areas

With over 60 years of experience as criminal defense lawyers, our law firm provides skilled legal representation for all areas of criminal law including:

  • Assault and Battery
  • Aiding and Abetting
  • Assault with a Deadly Weapon
  • Attempted Murder
  • Burglary
  • Brandishing a Weapon
  • Child Endangerment
  • Corporal Injury to a Spouse
  • Criminal Threats 
  • Criminal Appeals
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes
  • Drug Possession for Sales
  • DUI Causing Injury
  • Elder Abuse
  • Federal Crimes
  • Felony DUI
  • Fraud Crimes
  • Great Bodily Injury Enhancement
  • Health Care Fraud
  • Hit and Run
  • Internet Crimes
  • Kidnapping ·
  • Manslaughter
  • Prescription Drug Crimes
  • Probation Violations
  • Protective Orders
  • Restraining Orders
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Robbery
  • Theft Crimes
  • Three Strikes Cases
  • Sexual Assault 
  • Sex Crimes
  • Statutory Rape
  • Violent Crimes

Pre-Filing Intervention has led to countless successful results before the case reached the courtroom. We might be able to negotiate wit the prosecutor to avoid criminal charges being filed in the first place. Early intervention into your case by our law firm can have a dramatic impact on the outcome of the case.

Criminal Case Process in Los Angles Criminal Courts

The criminal process starts with an arrest where a defendant will normally be held at a local county jail until the time of their arraignment and the prosecutor files formal charges.

Typically, the judge will set a bail amount within 72 hours after the initial arrest, which is based on a Los Angeles County bail schedule will sets guidelines based on the type of alleged offense. 

However, there are situations when the judge will the judge will order no bail, such as the most serious crimes or a probation violation. Retaining a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer early in the process could have a significant impact on the getting bail reduced or eliminated and is often the difference between freedom and remaining in jail.

Arraignment & Pretrial Conference

The first court date is the arraignment, where the defendant will normally appear in court where the judge will read the charges that were filed against them. Next, the defendant will enter their plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. 

If a not guilty plea is entered, the judge will set the next court date known as the preliminary hearing where the judge determines probable cause. If defendant has been charged with a misdemeanor, their case will move to the pretrial conference stage. 

This conference is basically a meeting between the criminal defense lawyer and prosecutor in an effort to negotiate for reduced charges, case dismissal, or a plea bargain.

A plea bargain is when a defendant makes an agreement to plead guilty in exchange for reduced penalties. If the case can be resolved at the pretrial conference, then the case is over and will no longer proceed through the courts.

Preliminary Hearing

A preliminary hearing, normally held within 10 days after the arraignment, is only held for felony offenses where a judge will review the details in order to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to send the case to trial stage.

It's essentially a hearing to review evidence and witnesses will provide testimony and can be cross-examined by the defendant's criminal lawyer. Once concluded, the judge will normally rule there is enough evidence to send the case to a trail court because the standard of proof at this stage low and doesn't require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. 

The preliminary hearing stage is an opportunity for the the defense lawyer to discover weaknesses in the case and it also lets them know how the prosecutor will attempt to obtain a conviction at trial. At this stage, the defense lawyer might be able to persuade the judge to reduce a felony to a misdemeanor.

Trial & Sentencing

If the case has not been resolved, then it will proceed to the trial stage where the prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer are given the opportunity to argue the case before a judge or jury.

Once the trail is over, then it will be in hands of the judge or jury to determine a verdict, either not guilty or guilty based on the evidence. If the defendant is found not guilty, then the case is over.

If found guilty, the case will then proceed to a sentencing hearing where the judge will determine punishment based on the type of crime for which they were found guilty.

Top-Rated Los Angeles Criminal Lawyers

At Eisner Gorin LLP, our experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer form our law firm has obtained countless positive case results for our clients through skilled legal representation and pre-filing intervention.

Our top-rated criminal law firm has routinely successfully negotiated with the prosecutor to avoid the formal filing of charges against out clients. We handle all type of misdemeanor and felony cases in state, federal and juvenile courthouses.

As former prosecutors, our attorneys are well-versed on how the criminal justice system works. Over our six decades of combined experience, we have developed effective courtroom defense strategies. A strong defense begins immediately - not in the courtroom. As soon as you suspect you may be charged with a crime, call us!

If you have one phone call from jail, call us! If you are facing criminal charges, DON'T talk to the police first. TALK TO US! CALL TOLL-FREE 877-781-1570 Anytime 24/7 We speak English, Russian, Armenian, and Spanish.

Eisner Gorin LLP has been recognized as one of the best U.S. law firms, based on the experience, professionalism, and ethics of its criminal defense lawyers and attorneys. We aggressively defend clients in all Southern California courtrooms on state and federal charges, including DUI, DMV, misdemeanor, felony, juvenile cases, in the following communities and courthouses. Los Angeles County, CA: Agoura, Altadena, Alhambra, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Century City, Chatsworth, Compton, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Downtown Criminal Court, El Segundo, East Los Angeles, Eastlake, Encino, El Monte, Glendale, Glendora, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Los Angeles Lawyer, La Canada, LAX Court, Los Padrinos, Long Beach, Los Angeles Attorney, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Newhall, Norwalk, Palos Verdes, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Santa Monica, South Gate, South Pasadena, Sylmar, Torrance, Universal City, Valencia, Van Nuys, West Covina, West Hollywood, Walnut, Westchester, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Whittier, Woodland Hills, California. Orange County, CA: Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine Attorney, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, La Habra, La Palma, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Orange County Lawyer, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda, California. Ventura County, CA: Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, San Buenaventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village. San Bernardino County, CA: Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland.

We speak English, Russian, Armenian, and Spanish.

If you have one phone call from jail, call us! If you are facing criminal charges, DON'T talk to the police first. TALK TO US!

CALL TOLL-FREE
877-781-1570
Anytime 24/7

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