Jon Katz’s victories

Improper driving ("ID"), which is an infraction, is often a negotiated result sought in a Virginia reckless driving case, but much less often attainable for a DUI case. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I recently obtained the big leap of an ID plea deal in...

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...

Succeeding in a criminal trial can take place at several stages. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that those possible stages are moving to dismiss the prosecution for failure to articulate a cognizable crime, for a defect in the charging document, for failure to...

Beating a DWI prosecution can stem from such approaches as convincing the judge that the traffic stop or arrest did not pass Fourth Amendment Constitutional muster, and convincing the factfinder(s) that the prosecutor has failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. One of my...

Consciousness of guilt of DWI from a blood alcohol test refusal can be considered in some non-Virginia jurisdictions. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that such test refusal is generally inadmissible at a Virginia DUI trial for any reason other than introducing a finding...

Hunches by themselves do not permit police stops of suspects. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that at minimum, the police officer needs reasonable articulable suspicion to stop a suspect. Moreover, Virginia has not yet recognized a community caretaker basis for police to stop...

Enemies are obstacles that are found in abundance if a criminal defense lawyer wants to find them. However, as a Fairfax criminal attorney, I know that acquittals and other court victories are obtained by not getting bogged down by seeming enemies nor by apparently insurmountable...

Refusal convictions are what such a high number of Virginia DUI defendants want to avoid that many are ready to plead guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to the parallel DUI charge in a deal to consequently enter as nolle prosequi/ not prosecuting the remaining...

Public intoxication is overcharged in Virginia. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that an intoxicated in public conviction is not good for one's reputation, and the risks of fighting such prosecutions only involve hiring a lawyer, and paying court fines and costs.

Acquittal is the ideal goal of going to trial. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, my view is to go to trial rather than entering a guilty, no contest or Alford plea, where the benefits and possibly lower risks of doing otherwise are not...