Criminal Defense

Naysayers are many, but the criminal defendant must pursue victory, says Fairfax criminal lawyer Naysayers — those who too quickly insist that risks will fail — can abound in courthouses, even among some otherwise excellent criminal defense lawyers. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I remind...

Other crimes evidence generally is inadmissible at trial. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that evidence of criminal acts not being prosecuted at trial is only admissible as follows: "Generally, evidence of an accused’s other criminal acts is 'inadmissible to prove guilt of the...

Anticipating your misdemeanor or felony trial date should include substantial planning and preparation by you and your lawyer. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I share the following insights about what to generally expect on your first criminal or DUI trial date in the Fairfax County...

Arraignments in Virginia not need to be an aggravating rather than simplified exercise. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, in this article I address the arraignment process for criminal and DUI cases in the Fairfax District Court. Be aware that procedures for this and other court...

Martial arts practice that can cause injury or death can be prosecuted in Virginia as a felony, if intended for a civil disturbance. Va. Code § 18.2-433.2 ("Martial Arts Law" or "MAL"), As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I read with interest a recent article...

Steve Descano ran as a reformer to successfully replace the current Fairfax County, Virginia, chief prosecutor. Having won the general election, he has posted two critical recent Facebook articles as he approaches his early January 2020 swearing in. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I take...

Court procedure can seem strange and daunting to criminal defendants. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the importance of my clients knowing basic court procedure in advance of their trial date, so that they may transcend the jitters of being in a courthouse where...

Public defender offices are needed in every Virginia courthouse. As a Fairfax County criminal defense lawyer, I am thank state senator Scott Surovell for sponsoring legislation to add Prince William County -- which has one of the commonwealth's busiest criminal court case dockets -- to...

Jury trials happen so infrequently as a percentage of criminal prosecutions in Northern Virginia that it is all the more important to assure that one's criminal defense and DUI lawyer has sufficient jury trial experience. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I have tried dozens of...

Urgent action is needed to prevent unseated Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh from filling a vacancy on the Virginia Court of Appeals, which is the first appellate stop for criminal and other appeals in Virginia. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I identify Mr. Morrogh with...