Los Angeles City Attorney facts for kids
The Los Angeles City Attorney is like the main lawyer for the city of Los Angeles. This person is chosen by the people in an election and works for four years. Their main jobs are to be the city's legal advisor and to handle cases for smaller crimes, called misdemeanors.
The City Attorney's office also has a special team that gives legal advice to the city government. They also represent the city when it's involved in civil lawsuits. It's important to know that the Los Angeles City Attorney handles smaller crimes, while the Los Angeles County District Attorney deals with more serious crimes, called felonies. To become the City Attorney, a person must have been a lawyer in California for at least five years.
What Does the Los Angeles City Attorney Do?
The Los Angeles City Attorney has two main roles:
- City's Lawyer: They give legal advice to the city government, its departments, and its leaders. They make sure the city follows the law.
- Prosecutor: They act as a prosecutor for less serious crimes, known as misdemeanors. These are crimes like minor traffic violations or petty theft. They work to make sure justice is served for these types of cases.
Who Can Be a Los Angeles City Attorney?
To be the Los Angeles City Attorney, a person must meet a few important requirements:
- They must be elected by the people of Los Angeles.
- They need to be a qualified lawyer who can practice law in California.
- They must have been a lawyer for at least five years before they are elected.
Past Los Angeles City Attorneys
Many people have served as the Los Angeles City Attorney since 1850. Here is a list of the people who have held this important job:
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Hayes | 1850–1851 |
| William G. Dryden | 1851–1852 |
| Joseph Lancaster Brent | 1852–1853 |
| Charles E. Carr | 1853 |
| Joseph Lancaster Brent | 1853 |
| Isaac Hartman | 1854–1855 |
| Lewis Granger | 1855–1856 |
| Cameron E. Thom | 1856–1858 |
| James H. Lader | 1858–1859 |
| Samuel F. Reynolds | 1859–1861 |
| James H. Lader | 1861–1862 |
| Myer Joseph Newmark | 1862 |
| Alfred Chapman | 1862–1865 |
| James H. Lader | 1865 |
| Andrew J. King | 1866–1868 |
| Charles H. Larrabee | 1868 (did not serve) |
| William McPherson | 1868–1870 |
| Frank H. Howard | 1870–1872 |
| Aurelius W. Hutton | 1872–1876 |
| John Franklin Godfrey | 1876–1880 |
| Henry T. Hazard | 1880–1882 |
| Walter D. Stephenson | 1882–1884 |
| James Wilfred McKinley | 1884–1886 |
| J.C. Daly | 1886–1888 |
| Charles H. McFarland | 1888–1894 |
| William Ellsworth Dunn | 1894–1898 |
| Walter F. Haas | 1898–1900 |
| W.B. Mathews | 1900–1906 |
| Leslie R. Hewitt | 1906–1910 |
| John W. Shenk | 1910–1913 |
| Alfred Lee Stephens | 1913–1919 |
| Charles S. Burnell | 1919–1921 |
| Jess E. Stephens | 1921–1929 |
| Erwin P. Warner | 1929–1933 |
| Ray L. Chesebro | 1933–1953 |
| Roger Arnebergh | 1953–1973 |
| Burt Pines | 1973–1981 |
| Ira Reiner | 1981–1985 |
| James Hahn | 1985–2001 |
| Rocky Delgadillo | 2001–2009 |
| Carmen Trutanich | 2009–2013 |
| Mike Feuer | 2013–present |
