Underdog Blog – Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer | Virginia DUI Attorney

Although drug possession consists of knowledge, dominion and control over the drugs, that does not automatically prevent a person from being arrested, prosecuted and convicted for being in the knowing presence of drugs without having any other involvement with them. Last Friday, Maryland’s highest court,...

When Barack Obama ran for president, I predicted that despite his overgeneralized talk of change that I would be no more satisfied with him than with Bill Clinton, with whom I was only moderately satisfied.  On the obscenity prosecution front, it turns out that Barack...

My ABC news contact informed me that my Nightline interview should air tonight. (UPDATE: It will be next week. That’s what happens when an item is not late-breaking news.) More details are here. Here is an article on the segment, including a quote from me.

DEA image in the public domain. Can humans detect unburnt cocaine odor? The Maryland Court of Special Appeals said in 2003 it is “scientifically impossible that the confiscated drug could be detected because the cocaine seized and the caffeine with which it was cut had no detectible odor.”...

Early this afternoon, I interviewed at ABC’s Washington, D.C., studio for its Nightline segment on exotic cabarets — also known as strip clubs — in the light of Missouri’s recent silliness in passing a law banning full nudity, liquor, and tipping while topless at such...

I often hear people, including criminal defense colleagues, rallying around candidates for judges and chief prosecutors. Rarely do I hear talk in such promotions, and during confirmation hearings, about the extent to which the judge will be overly harsh with setting bonds and setting sentences. ...

Last September, I blogged about efforts in the United States House of Representatives to eliminate bars to federal financial aid for simple drug possession convictions. My recent check on Congress’s Thomas website showed that the measure passed the House of Representatives and was referred to...

Kudos to Virginia’s intermediate appellate court for reversing a second degree murder conviction, due to the trial court’s refusal to allow the defendant to present a self defense theory surrounding the alleged gang membership of the decedent and one of his star witnesses, to try to...

Photo from website of U.S. District Court (W.D. Mi.). Even though my own stage fright level by now is at a deep minimum, I still need to understand stage fright and ways to minimize it for my own ongoing journey, and for the sake of...

Bill of Rights (From public domain.) Early on, trial lawyers are taught to “know your judge” and your jury. As a consequence, decisions whether to proceed to trial or settle a criminal or civil case require considering the potential judges and jurors who will sit at...