The November 2019 elections brought in new prosecutors in Fairfax County and three other Northern Virginia counties who presented themselves as reformers or progressives to one degree or another. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I support the effort of one county's chief prosecutor to eliminate...
Momentum continues forward for Virginia criminal defendants' rights with legislation together with removal of some courthouse confederate memorials. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I applaud these forward movements and urge that they continue at a good pace. Further strides have been made for the accused...
Timing your obtaining a lawyer for a Virginia felony, misdemeanor or DUI case involves taking the time to find the right lawyer, and obtaining and investing the finances for the attorney. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that the prosecution team is already assembled,...
Transcending and reversing obstacles is a big part of successful criminal defense in Virginia, which has among the harshest criminal justice systems. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that criminal defendants are presumed innocent under the Bill of Rights. Some are in fact innocent,...
A minor police encounter for an alleged traffic moving violation or for any other police interaction can mushroom into worse. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that skilled police know how to convince even some of the most recalcitrant suspects to talk to them...
Virginia DUI case negotiations will be affected significantly by the July 1, 2020, law change concerning the scope of permitted driving for those convicted of drinking and driving. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a DUI conviction means one year of suspended driving...
Addiction is an issue for numerous criminal defense clients, particularly in DUI, drug possession, and sex cases alleging child pornography and indecent liberties. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I repeatedly recommend substance programs to my Virginia DUI and drug clients, and psychological counseling for clients...
Drug death happens too often from overdosing on illegal drugs. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that opioids often are the culprit in such deaths, not helped at all by physicians who overprescribe Oxycodone, then deny addicted patients' frantic requests to accelerate the Oxy...
Virginia police wisely anticipate a spike of people driving with beer, wine and alcohol in their bodies during Labor Day weekend. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer and Virginia DUI attorney, I know that the best way is to avoid getting behind the wheel of a...
Special legislative action is taking place in Virginia on such items as barring police searches on the basis of marijuana odor, limiting police opportunity to make pretextual traffic stops to fish for more serious crime, giving criminal defendants the option to remove jurors from sentencing,...
Federal executions have resumed this year after a 17 year informal moratorium over the course of botched executions and court challenges. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that defending any murder or homicide case is demanding enough as is, and defending a capital punishment...
Kenosha, Wisconsin was barely noted in the national psyche before police officer Rusten Sheskey on August 23, 2020, shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back after he walked away from police and reportedly -- according to one of the two known incident videotapers --...
Assaulting police in Virginia is a Class 6 felony that gets a mandatory minimum of six months in jail and up to five years in prison. Va. Code § 18.2-57(C). As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I wholeheartedly support eliminating mandatory minimum jail for assault on law enforcement,...
Fairfax optional discovery order ("Order") forms are addressed in part 1 of this article (here). This is the second and final part of this blog entry on this topic by me, a Fairfax criminal lawyer handling felony, misdemeanor and DUI defense for decades in Fairfax...
Fairfax cases do not all have prosecutors assigned for misdemeanor cases, as explained here. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I need to obtain the discovery evidence to which the law entitles me, regardless of whether a prosecutor will handle the case or not. Virginia misdemeanor...
Fairfax judges this month via a unanimous Circuit Court issued a plan against systemic racism in the county's judicial system. As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I am heartened with this step forward that adds to positive steps for criminal defendants expected in this month's special...
Reckless driving is a Virginia Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia, carrying up to one year in jail, a fine up to $2500, and up to six months suspended driving. As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I know that Virginia's reckless law is not proven merely by...
Mary Jane / marijuana / reefer post-July 1, 2020 use and possession is now a Virginia civil offense carrying a $25 fine. However, as a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that marijuana use can continue to be a security clearance and immigration issue, and its...
Achievement at the highest possible level is the goal against any prosecution. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I emphasize to my clients the importance of our teamwork in obtaining the best possible results. With my client's consent, I recount a recent example of the...
[caption id="attachment_83536" align="alignright" width="300"] Accuracy of Virginia breath testing questioned by Fairfax DUI lawyer[/caption] Accuracy of breathalyzer testing is far from what the Virginia Department of Forensic Science claims, says Fairfax DWI lawyer Accuracy of breathalyzer testing is what I always am ready to attack as a...
