DUI convictions (see here) & public intoxication convictions (see here) bring immigration risks for those who are not United States citizens, at least for those with multiple alcohol-related convictions....
Virginia DUI charges should be fought tooth and nail by people charged with such offenses. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the fallout from a DUI conviction, including loss of liberty through possible jail time and through probation supervision (and, therefore, risk of future...
Firearm purchase applications -- actually consent forms for firearm dealers to run police background checks of the purchaser of a handgun or other firearm -- ask whether the purchaser has been convicted of a felony offense. Va. Code § 18.2-308.2:2. ...
As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I pity the criminal defendant arrested on an open warrant while carrying or near illegal drugs or other contraband, which compounds the criminal charges to be faced by the defendant....
As a Fairfax, Virginia, criminal lawyer, I know that when a risk exists that the Virginia magistrate will not let the defendant be released on bail, the criminal defense lawyer needs to be ready to arrange a bond hearing before a judge as soon as...
Arrest warrants should never be ignored. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer and Virginia DUI attorney, I know that ignoring them leaves the warrants a chance to catch up on the defendant in unforeseen and undesirable ways. Arrest warrants ordinarily get issued as a result of...
Federal felony sentencing often is harsh, unless the prosecution requests leniency as part of plea negotiations, with that leniency request ordinarily connected to snitching/cooperation. As a Virginia criminal lawyer defending in state and federal court, I know that many federal felony convictions involve substantial mandatory...
Police misconduct needs to be publicized. As a Fairfax, Virginia, criminal lawyer, I know that letting police abuse remain in the shadows will perpetuate such abuse. Bringing it to the light of day enables public scrutiny to reduce police misconduct....
Anger dissipation is critical on the road to victory in the courtroom and in life. As a Fairfax criminal lawer, I know how much easier that anger dissipation is said than done, but also know the benefits of applying the practice and principals of taijiquan/...
The power of thanks/gratitude, giving/serving and compassion can never be underestimated. They are key ingredients to succeeding as a lawyer, in any other line of work, and in life. They remove us from being self centered and draw us to bring out our greatness....
Police videotaping should be routine and available to the public, unless counterbalanced by sufficient concerns for protecting suspects' privacy and for not blowing open an ongoing criminal investigation. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that an incident picture and video can be worth a...
Drug sentencing court dates must include the criminal defense lawyer's taking into account how vilified illegal drugs remain to this very day by so many people. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that marijuana has come a long way out of such vilification. Here...
Preliminary hearings are an important part of Virginia criminal defense for felony prosecutions. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that such hearings are important for obtaining discovery before the hearing date, for working to negotiate a mutually agreed settlement, to learn more about the...
Strict deadlines apply for challenging criminal convictions. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, my heart goes out to the numerous people calling me to seek relief for serious convictions years after the last court action was taken. The relief usually is sought to try to obtain...
Virginia drug defense involves humorless statutes, sentencing schemes and sentencing guidelines. As a Fairfaxcriminal lawyer, I know that the sentencing risks for a drug conviction multiply when the conviction is not for mere personal drug use, and is instead for selling, distributing, manufacturing, or possessing...
Guilty pleas in Virginia must only be the result of the defense's fully preparing for trial. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that this trial readiness approach to pleading guilty, no contest/nolo contendere, Alford, or facts sufficient to prove guilt (collectively for this article,...
Statutory rape prosecutions are risked at the Virginia state level whenever an adult engages in sex with a minor, whether or not the defendant knew the minor was a minor. At the federal level, a prosecution for sex trafficking requires that the defendant “knew, or...
Virginia prostitution defense often involves police stings, where alleged Johns/hobbyists are set up to meet with would-be prostitutes/providers who instead are police officers/police hires. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know how much prostitution prosecutions waste limited police resources that could instead...
Virginia drug defense for me frequently involves drugs that can be obtained by prescription. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that people can get prosecuted for alleged criminal possession of prescribable drugs/controlled substances in such ways as not having the medicine in a valid...
On past Veterans Days, I have warned against overglorifying the military, and about the human weaknesses and errors that bring war atrocities and other abuses of military power. Today, I will address some better and more humane ways of fighting, both with the military and...
