Knowing one's true self is vital to anyone's life. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that discovering and reccognizing my true self is essential not only to me as a person, but for everything I do as a criminal defense lawyer, from connecting and...
Masked people abound as Covid-19 continues without a care, moving from host to host, slowing here and surging there. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that coronavirus must not be permitted to water down justice. For Due Process and the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause...
LEO -- law enforcement officers -- home searches can only lawfully take place with a valid search warrant, sufficient consent from an authorized person, or (infrequently) exigent circumstances. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that police search caselaw is not as friendly to criminal...
A mistrial can happen for a number of reasons in Virginia, including a hung jury and evidence of misconduct in the jury room. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a criminal defendants' Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy rights bar a retrial after a mistrial...
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a Virginia conviction for meth possession carries up to ten years in prison, as opposed to a conviction for meth (or any other Schedule I or II drug) possession with...
Fairfax policing of course is not immune from misconduct, because police are humans, and all humans are fallible. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I am thankful that body camera footage caught Fairfax County, Virginia police officer Tyler Timberlake unnecessarily tasing a disoriented man not just...
Before returning to society after loosening of societal Covid-19 restrictions, you owe it to yourself to be reminded of your rights in dealing with police and the criminal justice system. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that the difference between knowing and asserting those...
Captivating jurors in a persuasive, real, and in the moment manner can help them forget any negative preconceived notions about criminal defense lawyers, and lead the jury to focus on the lawyer's words and word images instead. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the...
Two bites at the apple are available when a Virginia criminal defendant first proceeds to a misdemeanor trial or probation violation trial in District Court. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I tell my clients that we are going to fight like hell to obtain a...
Demonstrators nationwide are hitting the streets demanding real policing reform, ending racism, and justice reform after George Floyd died while a Minneapolis police officer pinned him down for many minutes with the cop's knee. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I have been unable to keep...
Failing to appear in court -- also known as FTA -- happens too often with too many criminal defendants. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that judges take FTA's very seriously, and that failing to appear for a felony court date exposes one to...
Minneapolis former cop Derek Chauvin -- who kneed George Floyd's neck until he died -- is not a mere abberation. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that police abuse runs too rampant, making this George Floyd tragedy at once hearbreaking, despicable, and unfortunately not...
Persevering is the only option for a criminal defendant and his or her lawyer. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that success is sweet, loss needs to be treated as a hurdle and learning experience on the path back to victory, and a winning...
Pushbutton cars should fall outside Virginia's caselaw permitting a DUI conviction for sitting parked behind the wheel with the key in the ignition in the off position. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer / Virginia DUI attorney, I know that Virginia DWI law bars both driving...
Loose tongues are what police love with criminal suspects. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I read with sadness how blabbermouthing with police in 2012 is the only thing that got Ruben Edward Moore convicted of a 1981 murder in a cold case. Moore v. Virginia,...
Facemasks must be worn before entering all Northern Virginia courthouses, until further notice during Covid-19. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I provide you the following links for the mask policies -- most similar to each other -- in the Fairfax County, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William...
My dad Joseph Jacob Katz passed away May 18, 2020. I could say he had a long illness, and that I am happy I got a chance to visit with him for many nice hours at my parents' home in New York City this past...
Blabbermouthing with police is a dangerous thing. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the importance for criminal suspects and arrestees to remain silent with the police, and too often see them foster a conviction by not asserting their rights under the United States Constitution's...
Objecting is part of the toolkit of a trial lawyer. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that non-trials are resuming this week in most Virginia counties, while jury trials are on hold, during Covid-19. For courts not resuming most trials, they are expected to...
Conspiratorial conduct -- known as a conspiracy -- arises when two or more people enter an agreement to commit a crime or series of crimes. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that for certain non-drug felony conspiracies, the Virginia sentencing maximum is less than...
