Every year scores of people are arrested and given a Court date to appear in the South Bay Court in Torrance for a criminal charge.  Many of these folks are not residents of Los Angeles County or even the state of California and it would be exceedingly difficult for them to arrange to travel back to the area to resolve minor misdemeanor offenses such as DUI, drunk in public, driving on a suspended license, etc.  Among the common cities where this situation arises are Redondo Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Hermosa Beach, Torrance and Manhattan Beach.  According to one Torrance Criminal Attorney the law permits a licenses attorney to appear on behalf of a client for misdemeanor cases pursuant to Penal Code 977.  This law makes it possible to have the lawyer fully resolve a criminal case without the client ever needing to  physically appear before a Judge.  This convenience can save a client thousands in travel costs and needless headaches and worry.