Don’t Let Your Lawyer Let Go of Prosecutors’ Jugulars
Don't let your lawyer let go of prosecutors' proverbial jugulars
Don't let your attorney let go of the prosecutor's / assistant commonwealth's attorney's proverbial jugulars. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know of this truism as much as I know of the truism of needing to keep your friends close and your opponents closer. When my clients see me chatting amiably with prosecutors, police, and others, they know that I do so when fully trial-ready and when fully ready to reverse and dismantle any shenanigans in which my opponents engage. When your Virginia criminal defense lawyer is fully prepared for a courthouse battle, s/he can come across as amiable while still unleashing all essential wallops in pursuing your best defense.
Should my Virginia criminal lawyer cozy up to prosecutors? Never, but compassion and smiling can go a long way while not letting go of their jugulars
On the point of your Virginia criminal lawyer's being able to be at once fully prepared and amiable while not letting go of their jugulars, I remember how eagerly an elected chief prosecutor -- before the courtroom unlocked -- was regaling me about the virtues of his selling a multi-level marketing line of products on the side. Then, the courtroom doors swung open when the prosecutor was in mid-sentence. The judge for my drug distribution suppression motion hearing told the prosecutor to call his first witness to the stand. The prosecutor said his witnesses were on call and asked for time for them to get to court. The judge insisted that the prosecutor bring his first witness to the stand at that very moment. The prosecutor rested without presenting any testimony or evidence, and my suppression hearing and case itself at that moment were simultaneously won. After the judge left the bench, the prosecutor stormed out of the courtroom, and the court reporter said, "There goes Marvin unprepared again." As a sub-lesson, do not expect that merely because the chief prosecutor or their deputy is on your case, that they will do a good job. The corollary is never to underestimate the opposition.
Should my Virginia criminal lawyer scowl and bare fangs? All bark and no bite is useless
As a Fairfax criminal lawyer in court during the previous prosecutorial administration, the prosecutor had the temerity to invite me to sit down with him after he rejected my wet reckless offer in a Virginia DUI prosecution, and proceeded to complain how going to trial was wasting his time when he had so much other work to do. I answered this nonsense by obtaining an acquittal at trial. I did not scowl back nor bare any fangs nor pounce for jugulars, other than using my fangs at trial, only the in the way needed to win. This former prosecutor is now in partnership with a lawyer I respect. However, my memory is long, I do not know whether this former prosecutor has changed such ways, and I am not ready to refer potential clients to this law firm, when I did so before this former prosecutor was there.
Will cozying up to the prosecutor get me a great plea deal?
The prosecutor is doing his or her work with their own agenda, whether that be to protect the public, to get a lot of trial experience, to please their supervisors, as a stepping stone to the next career move, or for whatever other reasons. None of those agendas is about figuring out how to offer sweetheart deals to Virginia criminal defense lawyers. Part of their agenda is to manage their time and to negotiate wisely, so the more of a threat and jugular risk that the prosecutor sees in your criminal defense lawyer, the more likely is the prosecutor to agree to a favorable plea negotiation with your attorney. If you hire a criminal lawyer only for their negotiation skills and not also for their trial ability, your lawyer will find themselves with their pants down if they do not reach the settlement you want, and bombs at trial. That does not prevent your lawyer from smiling on the path of succeeding for you. One day when a Fairfax prosecutor rejected my offer to amend this DUI case to a wet reckless driving disposition said to me: "Katz, let's take this case to trial. You always smile when you object." And smile I did, not only while objecting, but also when the judge proclaimed "Not guilty."
How does your Fairfax criminal lawyer deal with the nicer tone of voice of this county's prosecutors?
As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I welcome the more human tone of voice from most of this county's prosecutors under the current Fairfax chief prosecutor / commonwealth's attorney than the often nasty and arrogant tone and approach of many prosecutors in the prior administration. However, beware of Greeks bearing gifts/ Trojan horses, and still make sure your lawyer is ready to go for their jugulars. Behind the smile of a prosecutor can still be exasperating action and an agenda of your own. Consequently, your Fairfax criminal lawyer needs to be as capable at trial, with settlement negotiations, and with all other aspects of your defense as when a much more so-called one-sided law and order set of entrenched Fairfax prosecutorial administrations existed in that county for decades.
How do I find a Fairfax criminal lawyer who will obtain as much justice as possible for me?
Have you been arrested for allegedly violating the Virginia criminal or DUI laws? If so, do not delay in finding the best possible criminal lawyer for you. Start at my article here in finding the right attorney for you. My staff and I will be delighted for you to give us a call.
Fairfax criminal lawyer Jonathan Katz pursues your very best defense against Virginia DUI, felony and misdemeanor prosecutions. Start your defense by meeting with Jon Katz for your free in-person confidential consultation for your court-pending prosecution. Call us at 703-383-1100 to schedule your meeting with Jon, who can usually meet with you the day you call or the next business day.