Jessica Brown has been working in government as a litigator for over twenty years in both criminal and civil law, and has tried cases in state and federal court. Currently Ms. Brown works at the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney, where she Supervises the Environmental Justice and Protection Unit (“EJCP”). EJCP prosecutes environmental crimes including hazardous material and waste violations, hazardous spills, oil and gas related violations, air and ground pollution, public nuisance, and wildlife crimes. They focus on working with their law enforcement partners and community leaders to address environmental violations. Ms. Brown has been in the Environmental Justice and Special Litigation Units since 2010, where she has had the opportunity to be lead counsel on several high-profile prosecutions, including People v. Southern California Gas, et al., JCCP 4886. Ms. Brown was awarded the 2018 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year in recognition of her statewide efforts to expand and improve the prosecution of wildlife crimes throughout the state of California.
From 2008-2010 Ms. Brown was assigned to the Civil Branch of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office in the Police Litigation Unit. In that position, Ms. Brown defended the City of Los Angles and the Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”). While in the Police Litigation Unit, Ms. Brown was lead counsel on the May Day Melee lawsuits, and defended the City and LAPD against allegations of excessive force made by news reporters, hundreds of protestors, and attendees at the May 1, 2007 May Day Protests in MacArthur Park.
Prior to joining the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Brown was a Deputy District Attorney in Riverside County. There she was assigned to a variety of prosecution units including the Consumer Fraud Unit, Economic Crimes Unit, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit, and the Juvenile Division.