Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Encyclopedia
The Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center (formerly known as the Criminal Courts Building) is the county
courthouse
in downtown Los Angeles
, California
, U.S.A. It is located at 210 West Temple Street, between Broadway and Spring Street.
Originally known as the Criminal Courts Building, in 2002 it was renamed the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, after Clara S. Foltz
, the first female lawyer
on the west coast of the United States
.
Notable trial judge
Lance Ito
holds trials in this building. High profile trials are held on the Ninth Floor of the building, because of a secondary screening area in addition to the main screening at the ground floor level. The building also houses the main offices of the Los Angeles County District Attorney
and the Los Angeles County Public Defender
.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
in downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, U.S.A. It is located at 210 West Temple Street, between Broadway and Spring Street.
Originally known as the Criminal Courts Building, in 2002 it was renamed the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, after Clara S. Foltz
Clara S. Foltz
Clara Shortridge Foltz was the first female lawyer on the West Coast. She was the sister of U.S. Senator Samuel M. Shortridge...
, the first female lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
on the west coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
Notable trial judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Lance Ito
Lance Ito
Lance Allan Ito is an American Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, best known for his presiding decision during the O. J. Simpson murder trial. He currently hears felony criminal cases at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.-Early life and career:Ito was born to Jim and Toshi Ito...
holds trials in this building. High profile trials are held on the Ninth Floor of the building, because of a secondary screening area in addition to the main screening at the ground floor level. The building also houses the main offices of the Los Angeles County District Attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney
The District Attorney of Los Angeles County prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that occur within the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County, California....
and the Los Angeles County Public Defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
.
Notable Trials
- O.J. Simpson murder trial
- Phil SpectorPhil SpectorPhillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
murder trial - Helen Golay and Olga RutterschmidtBlack Widow murdersOn April 18, 2008, Helen Golay of Santa Monica, California and Olga Rutterschmidt of Hollywood, California were convicted of the murders of two homeless men...
– 2008 murder trial - BART Police shooting of Oscar GrantBART Police shooting of Oscar GrantOscar Grant was fatally shot by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California, United States, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009. Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded Bay Area Rapid Transit train returning from San Francisco, BART Police officers detained...
trial - Trial of Dr. Conrad Murray for the death of Michael JacksonDeath of Michael JacksonOn June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...