The Los Angeles City Attorney is an elected official who serves as the City of Los Angeles' government's lawyer and as a criminal prosecutor for misdemeanor offenses only. The City Attorney is elected for four years, and the City Charter requires the city attorney to be a lawyer qualified to practice in the California courts for five years preceding their election. In addition the General Counsel Division of the office provides legal counsel for the city and represents it in civil actions. The Los Angeles County District Attorney is an elected official who serves a four year term and is the criminal prosecutor for the County of Los Angeles for both felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Benjamin Ignatius Hayes was an American pioneer who was the first judge of the district court that served Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino counties in California. His seminal rulings are still cited in that state's courts.