Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Lawyer

Assault trial court dates require full preparation for litigation battle. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that an assault conviction is a scarlet letter on one's criminal record and reputation, and that any parallel protective order proceeding needs to be fully defended as well....

Restricted license availability for refusal removes prosecutorial bargaining chip in DUI cases, says Virginia DUI lawyer Restricted licenses currently are not available for Virginia convictions for refusing to submit to breath or blood testing for measuring blood alcohol content (BAC) after being arrested for violating...

Coronavirus reactions have reduced courthouse activity in various jurisdictions, battered the stock market, closed government activities and many educational institutions, forced quarantines, imposed travel bans, and led to such government state of emergency measures as banning large gatherings of people. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer...

Fairfax criminal defense has its own rhythm, peculiarities and challenges, just as does each Virginia county courthouse. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a significant part of successful criminal defense is knowing your judge, how to deal with prosecutors (now with an entirely...

Searching homes is not permitted by police under the Fourth Amendment without a search warrant, consent of a resident, or exigent circumstances. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that one present occupant's objection to such an otherwise consensual search trumps the consent of the...

Judge pushback on criminal defense-friendly prosecutorial discretion -- including motions to enter cases nolle prosequi / dismissed, and to amend charges downward -- is taking place in at least one county (Arlington) where a self proclaimed reformist chief prosecutor has been in office since January...

Incest law is commonly known to apply to relatives closely related by bloodline. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that Virginia law also criminalizes having sexual intercourse with one's minor stepchild. Specifically: "[I]f a parent or grandparent commits adultery or fornication with his...

Diffusing tense situations can take substantial self control when feeling that the other person has committed a major trespass. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know the persuasive and advocacy power of dissipating tension and never escalating it. Much happens in criminal court that...

Pill popping is all too common, but that -- without more evidence -- does not make a car's driver culpable in Virginia for one illegal drug pill found in the console between the front seats. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, not only do I...

Cop arrest quotas are antithetical to the United States Constitution, civil liberties, and justice for criminal suspects and defendants. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that police have a temptation to justify their jobs in part through working to total up a high...