Criminal Defense

“That was nice of the prosecutor,” replied a colleague — a criminal defense lawyer whom I respect very much — after I told him that during his direct examination of a police officer, a Virginia prosecutor strolled over to the defense table to show me...

When police, law enforcement, or a government agency issue you a subpoena for documents or other tangible evidence, it is wisest to consult with a qualified lawyer well in advance of the subpoena’s evidence production deadline. A qualified lawyer will help determine whether you are...

Arrogance afflicts all but a handful of people. In the criminal courtroom, prosecutors are at risk of all the more arrogance because of their privilege, power, and excessive deference they receive from too many judges and other courthouse personnel. I still remember the day around...

Few battles and wars are won singlehandedly. An exception is the fictitious ronin

Criminal defense work does not suit just anyone. Those who thrive on being part of the “in-crowd” since high school on up, right to college fraternities and to country clubs, might feel like fish out of water doing criminal defense. Former prosecutors, former cops, and...

A while back, a prosecutor interrupted my argument — as many prosecutors have a penchant to do — near the very beginning of the hearing that I had scheduled on my own motion. I let my irritation get the better of me  — with irritation...

Virginia legal practice is full of formality, starting with the overformality of requiring bar exam takers to wear courtroom attire, offset by requiring shoe soles that do not go clippity-clop on floors, thus permitting the silly clash of athletic shoes against dark suits. How does...

Why do so many people freak about public human nudity, about letting it all hang out, when nobody freaks out that all other animals walk around nude? The human lack of fur does not answer the question, because I can spot a male elephant from...

At trial, cross-examining a runaway police officer can be dangerous. Ask the officer whether the alleged criminal incident was recorded by audio and/or video, and s/he might reply: “Recording was not necessary, seeing that officer A saw the defendant sell cocaine to a pedestrian, officer B...

All trials on behalf of criminal defendants have their own challenges and opportunities. Here are some significant challenges that will or might come the way of a criminal defense lawyer in a multidefendant case: The co-defendants’ lawyers must find as much harmonious effort as possible in...