Seriousness is how to approach your criminal defense, says Fairfax criminal lawyer

Seriousness is the way to go for your Virginia criminal defense. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the value of humor and engagement with persuasion, but always integrated with — and never at the expense of — approaching your defense seriously. This calls for you to obtain the right lawyer for you, who knows that it is better to overprepare and overcover risk, and never to seek handouts from prosecutors or judges. Prosecutors, judges, jurors and police have their own agendas that at best will only partially overlap with your agenda. Wishful thinking, versus settlement negotiations backed by trial readiness, does no more good for your Virginia criminal defense than looking a storm in the eye and wishing it away.

Seriousness reversed a Virginia Court of Appeals decision overturning a contempt conviction for being under the influence of marijuana from the witness stand

A prime example of seriousness by Virginia trial judges is that not only did a Northern Virginia judge many months ago order a jail sentence on a contempt conviction he rendered upon an alleged crime victim when testifying from the witness stand. but the Virginia Court of Appeals — sitting en banc (by the full court membership) — reversed the court’s lower panel opinion overturning that Northern Virginia judge’s contempt action. Orndoff v. Commonwealth of Virginia, ___ Va. App. ___ (Feb. 6, 2024). (As an aside, two of the Virginia Court of Appeals voting to uphold the panel decision overturning this contempt conviction are former Fairfax Circuit Court judge Daniel Ortiz and former Fairfax public defender lawyer Vernida Chaney.)

Should I throw in the towel when considering how no nonsense are so many Virginia judges?

Never throw in the towel over judge seriousness nor anything else. Fight, fight, fight, and do so effectively as a team with the right Virginia criminal defense lawyer for your. Ask your Virginia criminal lawyer what you might do to improve your settlement negotiating and sentencing prospects, including but not limited to community service and other self improvement, some ideas of which I post here.

Do not make Virginia criminal court an exercise in “Please sir may I have another”

One of the greatest scenes in the at-once classic and at times politically incorrect film Animal House, is when Kevin Bacon’s frat initiate character requests after each wooden paddle whack against his butt: “Please sir, may I have another.” Addressing judicial seriousness does not mean to anticipate judicial wrath, but instead to be fully prepared to assist the judge in ruling in your favor. Judges will appreciate for your Virginia criminal lawyer to be so prepared that s/he is simultaneously efficient with his or her time in the courtroom while also educating and persuading the judge in your case.

Fairfax criminal lawyer Jonathan Katz relentlessly pursues your best defense against Virginia DUI, felony and misdemeanor prosecutions. See for yourself the great defense that Jon Katz can deliver for you, through an initial consultation scheduled through Jon’s staff at 703-383-1100. Your initial in-person consultation about your court-pending prosecution is free.