Actually, the murders took place in the Santa Monica Judicial District. They happened in 1994, before California courts unified to all courts into being superior courts. What should have happened back in 1994 is the criminal complaint being filed in Santa Monica where the preliminary hearing should have been heard. After the prelim, the information would be filed in the central courts downtown where all major felonies were heard and the case would proceed there as it did. Garcetti by-passed Santa Monica and filed the criminal complaint in the central court. No objection was raised by the defense so it is and was a non-issue. The defense wanted the case where it was held anyway. BTW, a successful change of venue motion would have taken the case out of LA County County completely and moved it to another county.