Underdog Blog – Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer | Virginia DUI Attorney
Fairfax Criminal Lawyer / Virginia DUI Attorney- Highly-Rated
Pursuing Your Best Defense Since 1991
In Virginia, a DWI conviction is even possible for being drunk in one’s car in the home driveway, with the key in the ignition’s off position
What happens in Virginia if a person drinks heavily at home, is thrown or nagged out of the house by the remaining family members on a cold night for acting all drunk or for overstaying his or her welcome as a guest, and goes into his or her car in...
Converting 3 DWI’s to reckless driving in 7 days, against great odds and in the moment
Throughout the 1994 National Criminal Defense College’s Trial Practice Institute and 1995 Trial Lawyers College, we were repeatedly reminded and inspired to find, cultivate and execute our own personal magic in order to do great things for our clients. The idea is not for us...
The judge boomed to me: “Why does that not surprise me” that you’re going to trial rather than pleading guilty?
One day, a trial judge called my case to be heard, and I responded: "My client pleads not guilty. We are ready for trial." The judge boomed back "Why does that not surprise me?" after I had completed another recent trial with him. I forget...
The plight of criminal defendants alone in the courthouse, or with limited funds to hire a lawyer
Recently, I saw one of my more favorite misdemeanor court judges on a Monday deny a trial postponement in a domestic assault case to a lawyer who explained that the defendant had just hired him the previous Friday, and the lawyer wanted more time to...
Whether & When a Criminal Defense Lawyer Should Show His or Her Hand & Power
An excellent civil trial lawyer in Chicago prefers to downplay his abilities pretrial so that the opponent will not be prepared for the tidal wave of power that the lawyer will bring to the courtroom. He is not alone. My general approach is not to...
Criminal defense is unconventional warfare
At my best, I march to the beat of my own drummer, neither joining the crowd just to be accepted nor to earn more money, nor shunning the crowd merely to identify as an individual. After returning from my 1986 plum Japan/Hong Kong assignment during my year working...
Storytelling to an acquittal at trial on charges of DWI and breath test refusal
My Virginia driving while intoxicated clients who refuse to be breath or blood tested for blood alcohol and/or drug content post-arrest, know that a first-time refusal conviction spells one year of no driving at all, with no exceptions. If also convicted of DWI, an additional...
Using humanity rather than lawyering in dealing with clients and others in distress
Most of my clients feel disharmony and even distress to one extent or another, some to the point that they obsess daily about their cases. A few are angelic at all times, apparently even when I am not around, understanding that the past has already...
My Duty as a Fairfax criminal lawyer is to win
My duty as a Fairfax criminal lawyer is to sin. A client recently remarked how he was impressed to see me good-naturedly bantering in the hallway with the same police against whom I did not let go of during cross examination at trial an hour...
On using the golden rule and silence with police
It is not always easy to be calm towards abusive police, but it is best for a suspect to complain later with the help of a qualified lawyer, rather than to address the matter more than necessary with the abusive police officer. As a Fairfax...