Judges

Battling for criminal defense clients can be seen either as a great opportunity to help people and protect civil liberties, or else as a constant struggle against an overly unjust criminal justice system. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I choose the first approach, in that...

Judges in a Virginia felony or class 1 misdemeanor Circuit Court jury trial sitting with a jury must first preside over a jury sentencing trial (if the jury convicts) before the judge sets the final sentence. Va. Code § 19.2-295.1. The sentencing risks of a...

Danger abounds when insufficiently armed for court, says Fairfax criminal lawyer. Danger lurks around every corner in a criminal courthouse. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know it is essential to go to court fully prepared for battle. Criminal defense is not an exercise for...

Judicial influences - Virginia criminal lawyer on the importance of knowing your judge. Judicial decisionmaking is influenced by factors beyond only the courtroom and judicial chambers. As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I know that judges come to their jobs with several decades of prior life...

Virginia criminal lawyer on winning through devotion and ability, rather than being slick. Devotion to clients and persuasiveness win for criminal case clients. Slickness and polish may look good, but devotion, preparation, realness and persuasiveness win in court. As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I know...

Virginia criminal lawyer on winning through openness, embracing all, and eliminating negative words. Negative words are a downward spiral. We know that already, but negative words permeate daily dialogue, starting with car stereos blasting F-bombs and proceeding with referencing others as sex organs, and calling...

Fairfax criminal lawyer urges good police and judicial conduct to be contagions for a better criminal justice system. Police patience and de-escalation are sorely needed in our overpoliced society where I have witnessed a police officer yelling his head off at a driver who had...

Persuading judges, opponents and others is a skill that requires experience and a number approaches, some of which I address here, here and here.  As a Fairfax, Virginia, criminal lawyer, I know how essential it is to skilfully engage everyone we aim to persuade. Today,...

Persuasive engagement and well-cultivated vibrations persuade in criminal court. Manipulation is not what persuades, as I have learned time and again as a Virginia criminal lawyer. 

Opening hearts and minds and ears is an essential part of persuading in criminal defense and in any other endeavor. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I fully understand and follow that principle.