Burbank
Criminal Courthouse Overview
The Burbank Criminal Courthouse, which is in the North Central District of the Los Angeles Superior Court, handles a multitude of criminal charges, ranging from infraction violations to felonies. Cases are assigned to the various criminal courtrooms based on the types of charges and level of severity. There are more than 1000 felony, 6000 misdemeanor, and 10,000 infraction cases heard in the Burbank Courthouse each year. Felonies are prosecuted by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, while misdemeanors and local violations are handled by the Burbank City Prosecutor’s Office.
Criminal Defense Attorneys represent clients in each of the criminal courtrooms.
The Burbank Courthouse is located at 300 East Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91502. The hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Division Two, now located on the second floor of the Burbank Courthouse, is currently the assigned trial courtroom for local Burbank misdemeanors.
At the Burbank Courthouse, an
Arraignment typically occurs at the first court appearance. This is the time when the judge will inform you of the charges against you, explain any special allegations to the charges, and discuss constitutional and statutory rights. Persons charged with violations are entitled to have
criminal attorneys present on their behalf at all court proceedings, including arraignment. Because of numerous legal strategies involved with criminal charges, it is important to have an attorney represent you from the very beginning of your court proceedings.
A subsequent hearing at Burbank Court, known as a
Pretrial Conference, is typically set in misdemeanor criminal cases. This is the opportunity for
Burbank Criminal Defense Lawyers to discuss clients' case with the prosecutor and judge to determine if there is an opportunity to resolve the cases prior to a trial. An effective
criminal defense attorney covers numerous issues, facts, and related information with the prosecutor, advocating on your behalf.
A
Preliminary Hearing is a procedure set in felony cases, including Burbank Court felonies, where the judge determines if sufficient evidence exists to show that you committed a criminal offense. If a judge makes a finding that sufficient evidence does exist, then your case will be set for further proceedings, including a jury trial.
Community Service
There are many kinds of community service which can be ordered at the Burbank Courthouse. The most common forms of community service are Cal Trans and Graffiti Removal. Community service can be challenging to complete in a timely manner. Most participants attempt to complete their community work on weekends. However, since most people participating in community service work on weekends, there is a shortage of work assignments. Thus, many people are turned away at the community service locations on the weekend. It is important to show up extremely early to make sure you are allowed to participate in the program each day. Failing to complete the work on time can be considered a Probation Violation.
BURBANK
CRIMINAL COURTROOMS
Division One is a busy felony courtroom assigned the most serious charges in the Burbank Courthouse. Division One hears cases from Burbank and Glendale, including Charges involving Drugs, Grand Theft/Burglary, Weapons, Domestic Violence, Assault, Hit and Run, as well as Bench Warrants and Probation Violations. A typical calendar includes Arraignments, Early Disposition Proceedings (EDP), Preliminary Hearings, and Progress Reviews.
Division Two is the busiest courtroom in the Burbank Courthouse. It generally handles misdemeanor Arraignments, Pretrial Conferences, and Trial Confirmations. A typical day has 100+ cases scheduled, including state and local misdemeanor and infraction violations, as well as 15 to 25 In-Custody misdemeanor matters. Typical cases in this courtroom include Petty Theft, Shoplifting, Drug Possession, Driving with a Suspended License, Hit and Run, Burbank Airport Arrests, Bench Warrants, Probation Violations, and Burbank Municipal Code offenses.
Division Three, is oftentimes assigned progress reports of misdemeanor cases, and operates as a back-up courtroom for the other criminal courtrooms, in addition to its busy Civil Calendar.
Department G is an “overflow” courtroom which handles various criminal cases depending on need and availability.
Do I Need an Attorney?
How does a person know if he or she needs the assistance of an effective
Burbank criminal defense attorney for a case?
If you are being charged with a criminal offense you need an attorney. It is never wise to represent yourself in a criminal case.A misdemeanor or felony charge generally is punishable by jail, community work, fines, or a combination of these options. Attorneys are trained to evaluate your case and determine the best options for your specific situation. In courtrooms with a high volume of cases, such as The Burbank Courthouse, it is especially important to have an effective criminal defense attorney representing you to assure that you have every opportunity to resolve your case with an appropriate outcome.
You are entitled to hire an attorney of your choice to handle your criminal case. If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, then you are entitled to have a court-appointed attorney represent you at little or no cost, in any misdemeanor or felony case. Unfortunately, you do not have the right to a court-appointed attorney for infraction charges.
Common Burbank Courthouse Violations
Theft Charges
All theft charges are serious. Grand Theft and Burglary are what we call “wobblers,” meaning that they can be charged as felonies or misdemeanors depending on the severity of the circumstances. Jail time is not unusual for these types of charges at Burbank Court. Even if you only are charged with Petty Theft, commonly known as shoplifting, at a minimum, you are facing a conviction for what is called “a crime of moral turpitude.” Such a conviction could prevent you from obtaining or retaining certain types of jobs, and impact other aspects of your life in a negative way. In addition, you are facing probation, possible jail, fines, and/or community work with such charges. An effective criminal defense attorney will look at all of the possible resolutions available when resolving your theft-related case.
Bench Warrants A.K.A. Failure to Appear in Court
Often people charged with criminal offenses fail to appear in Burbank Court for their scheduled court dates. Unfortunately, there are significant consequences which generally follow to persons who miss their scheduled court dates. Judges issue bench warrants with high bail amounts for individuals not appearing in court on time. In the Burbank community, the Burbank Police Department is diligent in its pursuit of criminal violators, and it is not unusual for police officers to arrest people with bench warrants in the Burbank vicinity. However, if you have a bench warrant issued against you, there are effective ways to overcome the challenges you face. These situations clearly call for legal representation by a skilled attorney. It is never a good idea to represent yourself if you have a bench warrant in a criminal case.
Probation Violations
If you are placed on probation in the Burbank Courthouse, you are expected to follow the requirements imposed by the judge. When you do not follow through or violate terms and conditions of probation, the court will set your matter for a probation violation hearing to determine the extent of the problem. If you are found to be in violation of probation, then you are subject to incarceration, revocation of probation, and/or termination of probation. Because of these serious consequences, it is wise to have effective legal representation to help resolve the problem. It is never a good idea to try to represent yourself if you are accused of violating terms of your probation.
Suspended License Violations
Suspended license charges typically originate when someone fails to appear in court on a case, upon conviction for DUI or Hit and Run, based on Driving with Excessive Blood Alcohol, or Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test, Failure to Pay Child Support, or because of a Medical Condition which may prevent safe operation of a motor vehicle. Minimum sentences for suspended license violations range from fines of over $1200, to jail and fines, depending on the type of suspension and the number of prior convictions and probation violations you have. There are effective ways to solve a number of the underlying causes of a suspended license. An effective attorney will look at trying to resolve the situation from a “global” standpoint, in order to avoid future similar problems.
Hit and Run Charges
A Hit and Run charge is a serious offense. Depending on whether there are injuries and the severity of the collision, a Hit and Run charge can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor. Property damage Hit and Run cases generally are charged as misdemeanors. The Burbank Courts treat these cases seriously. Penalties can range from incarceration, community work, fines, restitution, and probation (or a combination). In some cases, a Hit and Run case can be resolved with a Civil Compromise or similar result, when the victim of the case has been fully compensated for damages and no longer desires prosecution in the case. An effective lawyer can help determine the best possibilities in your case.
Drug Possession
Drug Possession charges should never be taken lightly. Felony drug cases can result in state prison or county jail; misdemeanor cases can result in county jail.
Any drug-related violation carries a negative stigma. However, there are effective approaches to many of these types of cases. The California Legislature and voters favor drug treatment, rather than punishment, for many drug possession charges, with options such as Penal Code section 1000, commonly known as drug diversion, as well as Proposition 36 Drug Court. People charged with any drug offense should be sure to seek legal representation to determine their best options.
Arrests at Burbank Airport
There are numerous arrests and citations originating from the Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport each month. Cases range from traffic citations, to Possession of Prohibited Items (Penal Code section 171.5), to Possession of Controlled Substances (Health and Safety Code sections 11357, 11350, 11377) and Possession of Weapons (Penal Code sections 12020, 12025, 12031). Criminal charges at the airport are serious, and require careful legal analysis to determine the best approaches with each case.
Burbank Municipal Code Violations
There are over 10,000 sections in the Burbank Municipal Code relating to a variety of violations, including licensing, building permits, businesses, fire hazards, and zoning, to name a few. There are many complexities related to the local municipal code. In many cases, an effective attorney can navigate you through the challenges you face when charged with a local violation. Again, this is not a situation to take lightly, since typical municipal code violations carry the same maximum punishments as do general misdemeanor offenses- up to six months in jail and a fine of $1000, or both.
Early Termination of Probation and Expungements
If you are placed on probation in a criminal case, there are many opportunities to have the case terminated and dismissed in the future. In some cases, a case can be ended prior to the original termination date, and expungement pursuant to the California Penal Code can give you a second chance in life. A diligent criminal defense attorney will evaluate opportunities to terminate probation and request to
expunge your misdemeanor or felony record.
Helpful Burbank Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous (Burbank)
818-565-5691
www.aa.org
Burbank Courthouse
300 East Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91502
818-557-3466
www.lasuperiorcourt.org
Community Service Office (Nearest to Burbank Court)
600 East Broadway Blvd. #111
Glendale, CA 91205
818-500-9552
www.vcla.net
Department of Motor Vehicles
1335 West Glendale Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91201
800-777-0133
www.dmv.ca.gov
Public Defender’s Office (Burbank)
300 East Olive Avenue, Suite 101
Burbank, CA 91502
818-557-3537