Underdog Blog – Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer | Virginia DUI Attorney
Fairfax Criminal Lawyer / Virginia DUI Attorney- Highly-Rated
Pursuing Your Best Defense Since 1991
Criminal Defense – Beware Trusting Prosecutors
During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union did not trust each other, but instead negotiated with each other because each had enough nuclear weapon firepower practically or actually to decimate humanity. Similarly, criminal defense lawyers and their clients must beware trusting prosecutors,...
What motivates and keeps the attention of a jury and any audience?
Last night, my son and I attended Tape Face's only appearance in the Washington, D.C., area for his current tour. I had been looking forward to this performance very much, and even more to spending a weeknight on the town with my son. Tape Face,...
DWI defense – Determining guilt or innocence is not a cookbook exercise
During some DWI bench trials, it appears that judges are using a piece of paper to check off information about the defendant's purported performance on the junk science field sobriety tests. I hope that no judges are using a pre-printed checklist -- and if so,...
The persuasive and fighting power of diffusing and de-escalating tense situations
Recently, I was minding my own business, waiting for my client in the hallway of the Fairfax County jail's attorneys visiting section. Then I heard commotion where three meeting rooms away from mine, an inmate was ranting and raving at his lawyer, a kindly-spoken public...
Criminal defense — Beware only using a thumbprint to secure your cellphone data
Recently, an unrepresented jail inmate appeared in a General District Court well outside Northern Virginia -- where I, therefore, only infrequently appear -- apparently for an arraignment. The prosecutor early on mentioned a motion he had filed that day or recently, seeking a court order...
When lawyers focus on serving potential and actual clients rather than competing with colleagues
When a potential criminal defense client visits me, s/he is looking to obtain the best possible defense, to relieve hsi or her feelings of distress, and to get his or her pressing questions answered about the case. The potential client is not interested in the...
Federal criminal defense – Trump’s attorney general goes full throttle for the highest sentencing ranges
It came as no surprise -- but disappointing nonetheless -- when this week Sessions reversed course on the Obama administration's efforts to reduce efforts to seek the maximum possible sentencing ranges against non-violent drug dealers. This week's memorandum (text here) on the topic from Sessions...
When a security clearance/public trust holder is hit with a criminal or DWI charge
Repeatedly, I get clients who have -- or want in the future to obtain -- security clearances or public trusts (collectively "Security Clearances"). That is to be expected with so many people in the area working for the federal government and for federal government contractors,...
A defense objection bars amending a Virginia charging document to change the character of the alleged offense
A conviction cannot be obtained without a charging document that sufficiently puts the defendant on notice of the crime with which s/he is being accused. Raja v. Virginia, 40 Va.App. 710 (2003). The Virginia charging document for misdemeanors in District Court will be a warrant...
Praised be judges who speak against the drug war
Praised be the judges who speak out against the drug war. Senior federal trial Judge Mark W. Bennett (N.D. Ia.) publicly admits feeling "greatly conflicted about my role in the 'war on drugs.'" (See also here.) Fourth Circuit senior Judge Andre Davis Jon Katz,...
