Criminal Defense

Virginia convictions are a scarlet letter. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that before such harshness can be inflicted on a criminal defendant. I also know that jury instructions on the applicable law must be sufficiently worded, so as to avoid convictions based on...

Fairfax discovery in criminal district court cases for many years often only showed up on the first court date or at best not long before. As a Fairfax DUI and criminal lawyer, in the last few months I experienced sometimes receiving such discovery more quickly...

Virginia probation length and violation penalty caps screamed out for reasonable limits for decades. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I applaud that those probation violation sentencing caps finally have become law, effective the middle of this year. These caps mean that supervised probation for felony...

Fairfax criminal plea deals -- and plea deals in all Virginia courts -- do not bind judges unless they agree to be bound. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that the trial just must permit the defendant to enter a guilty or nolo contendere...

Virginia criminal case speed from start to finish take into account a wide range of factors. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that those factors include whether the state chemist labs are backed up for Virginia drug prosecutions, how much of a trial scheduling...

Virginia convictions are risked all the more when the suspect flees soon after the crime is committed, as the Virginia Supreme Court has repeatedly confirmed. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that this can make the difference between a finding of guilt and acquittal....

Virginia impaired driving is a common type of prosecution, more commonly called DUI, DWI or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that committing DWI while carrying a concealed handgun in the car risks a prosecution and...

Fairfax judicial schedules for General District Court (GDC) until earlier 2021 were weekly posted on the bulletin board of the commonwealth's attorney's office. As a Virginia criminal defense lawyer, I know how important it is for a trial lawyer to focus his or her DUI,...

Virginia criminal defendants ideally will obtain the best possible lawyer for their case, including when considering that trial judges and appellate courts will not automatically remedy serious impediments to the defense in court and at trial, but need to be well persuaded to do so....

Challenging trial continuance motions by prosecutors is part of a Virginia criminal defense lawyer's arsenal. As a Fairfax criminal attorney, I here address the law governing trial date continuances and defense strategies for thwarting a continuance. One of three things can happen on your Virginia...