Veteran L.A. Prosecutor Quits

A veteran Los Angeles prosecutor known for winning murder convictions against the Menendez brothers and for his high-profile clashes with Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti has quit the D.A.’s office to become a private attorney.

David Conn, who joined the D.A.’s office 19 years ago, left Tuesday to join the Century City law firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro. Conn, 46, said he will handle civil litigation and white-collar criminal cases.

“There has always been a forward momentum to my career in the D.A’s office and that is why I stayed,” Conn said. “But now, I feel to continue that momentum I should continue my career with [the private firm].”

Early this year, Conn was transferred from the district attorney’s major crime division downtown to its Norwalk office. While Garcetti’s office called the reassignment routine, others in the office suggested it was over Conn’s comment that he “wouldn’t mind” one day becoming district attorney.

A spokeswoman for Garcetti said the office had no comment on Conn’s departure.