Underdog Blog – Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer | Virginia DUI Attorney
Fairfax Criminal Lawyer / Virginia DUI Attorney- Highly-Rated
Pursuing Your Best Defense Since 1991
Persuading as just folks, without the airs of Hermes ties and gold cufflinks
One day during my year working for New York City’s Irving Trust commercial bank before starting law school, I walked into Tiffany’s in Manhattan on a Saturday to buy a friend a wedding gift, figuring I’d get a crystal bowl or some other doo-dad under one hundred dollars,...
A DWI Victory Obtained Through Getting the Breath Test Result Discounted
Recently, I won a Virginia driving while intoxicated/under the influence bench trial appeal after my client was convicted in the lower General District Court when represented by a different and very capable attorney. Here are a few highlights from this victory: First and foremost, criminal defendants who lose at trial in Virginia...
The persuasive power of letting the story tell itself
Successful trial work requires throwing one’s entire self into smart, intuitive, and inspired case review and preparation; work with one’s client and all witnesses; and sweat.. By the time the lawyer appears in the courtroom stage, s/he should be so well prepared and ready to win...
SCOTUS confirms that traffic stops must be concluded in a reasonable timeframe, and may not be prolonged without an independent lawful basis to do so
On April 21, 2015, the United States Supreme Court resolved a federal circuit court split by ruling 6-3 that traffic stops must be concluded in a reasonable timeframe (already settled Supreme Court caselaw), and may not be prolonged without an independent lawful basis to do...
Those meant for trial work will feel invigorated rather than exhausted by the battle
A recent online law firm article points out that a reason for lawyers to reject a potential litigation client is to weigh the potential benefits of the litigation against the exhaustion and the harm on a lawyer’s family relations that can come from the intense energy,...
Prosecuting wrongful killings by cops will not reduce police misconduct as much as overhauling the entire criminal justice system
The videotaped and other reported incidents of wrongful killings and other misconduct by police keep pouring in. With this month’s police killings of Walter Scott (shot in the back) and Eric Harris (shot by a part-time cop claiming he meant only to tase Harris), we...
Fourth Circuit judge recognizes the harshness and fallibility of the child pornography possession sentencing guidelines
With no prior convictions, on a federal court guilty plea to one count of child pornography, Steven Helton received a five year prison term and lifetime probation. U.S. v. Helton, ___ F.3d ___ (April 2, 2015). Helton could have fared much worse at trial, based...
Parables, schmarables. To persuade, open your heart to help open others’ hearts, and tell a persuasive story
This year, the Voice of America and a freelance journalist with a major magazine interviewed me about the Boston marathon bombing trial against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, humanizing criminal defendants to jurors, and Tsarnaev’s lawyer and my hero Judy Clarke. The Voice of America interview was videotaped...
Deaf Man Denied Sign Language Interpreter at Arlington Jail – Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Property After Alleged Theft Victim Says He Found His iPad
As an Arlington Criminal Lawyer I am not fond of incarceration, I previously thought that that Arlington County, Virginia, jail a few miles up the road from me was one of the nicer jails to be jailed at EXCEPT for being able to see much...
My Return Speaking Engagement at GW’s Human Sexuality Class
Two weeks ago, I returned for my somewhat annual speaking engagement with George Washington University’s graduate Human Sexuality class. The class primarily is composed of students who want to be psychological counselors. Why are humans the only animals who need psychological counselors, self help books,...