El Segundo, California

The City of El Segundo is often known as four distinct areas. Many people think of the large Chevron oil refinery there which is visible from miles around, or its large sewage treatment plant.

Others think of its large, empty beaches under the Los Angeles International Airport departure corridor to the west, crossed by a bike path that curves around several large parking lots with RV’s parking overnight.

Others think of its quaint, small-town area of shops just a mile or so west of Sepulveda Boulevard. This area includes picturesque El Segundo High School, which was been used as a high school in many movies.

Lastly, El Segundo is known as home to many 30-story plus skyscrapers along Sepulveda Boulevard that are home to large Department of Defense contractors such as Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

El Segundo itself has a very small population, only about 17,000, but it has its own high school, which counts baseball star George Brett as one of its famous alumni. Eighty-three percent of its population is Caucasian. Just north of affluent Manhattan Beach, El Segundo draws most of its tax revenues from non-resident workers who work in the skyscrapers mentioned above. The City of El Segundo has its own small police department, with its own jail.

Legal disputes arising in El Segundo are heard in either the Airport Courthouse or the Torrance Superior Court. The Airport Courthouse only hears criminal disputes and pulls in cases also from Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and the Venice are. Our office is well-acquainted with most of the judges in the Airport Courthouse, as well as most of the District Attorneys and Los Angeles City Attorneys there. We regularly have cases in the Airport Courthouse.

The Torrance Courthouse hears both criminal and civil matters. It draws jurors from Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale, West Carson, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Lomita, parts of Harbor City and of course, El Segundo, too. Our office does the majority of its work in the Torrance courthouse. We are experienced with all of the judges, almost all of the city prosecutors and almost all of the district attorneys. We like to think of the Torrance courthouse as our “home court.”

Our office has handled a wide variety of cases arising out of El Segundo. The most common case is DUI, as it is almost anywhere. The Downtown El Segundo area is not patrolled too closely, but the two or three main east-west avenues from the downtown area back towards Sepulveda is. We have found these main arteries away from downtown are where the police make many traffic stops for DUI.

We have also handled a fair share of domestic violence cases arising out of El Segundo as well as a surprising number of cases involving the sale of alcohol to minors. In this latter type of case, usually as part of a police sting called Operation Shoulder Tap, the police will arrest several dozen people, mostly men, as they offer to buy alcohol for someone who says they are underage but want to buy some beer, for example.

The prosecutors at the Airport Courthouse range from extremely easy to get along with to some who seem to take their job far too seriously. Those prosecutors handling misdemeanor offenses are often respectful and flexible. We have found many to be refreshingly friendly and pleasant.

The judges are all quite good and patient. The courthouse does occasionally get a high profile case (i.e. Lyndsay Lohan) from the Santa Monica area, so TV cameras are often seen in the courthouse. This seems to keep the judges more aware of their image to the public and more careful on all cases. The courthouse also sees a fair number of homeless people being arrested repeatedly, which seems to keep the judges more empathetic. Lastly, the courthouse does see a regular stream of cases arising out of the airport, including thefts by baggage handlers.

For more information about the about common cases that one might face if arrested in this city, click on the following articles:

1. What Punishment Do I Face for Shoplifting?
2. What Punishment Do I Face for Public Urination?
3. Ten Things to Do if Stopped for DUI.

Contact us.

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