Trials
Revisiting owning time and place in the courtroom battlefield
It is easy to find ourselves challenged to succumb to automatic pilot mode during the day, constantly moving, moving, moving. Criminal defense lawyers constantly prepare for battle victory. Judges tell us when to come to court and when to start our trial. Clients merit timely...
“You always smile when you object,” the prosecutor told me
A prosecutor recently pointed out "You always smile when you object" when we try cases together. I replied that I smile while firing my proverbial bullets, and mentioned the great World War II movie scene where the American soldier calmly smiles in the moment, while...
Virginia Criminal Defense – Trial combat by fire with limited discovery
The battle lines are drawn. Prosecutors and police are not the friends of the criminal defense. Judges are at best the referees. A criminal defendant needs an able lawyer at all stages of the prosecution.
Virginia Criminal Defense – Beware when District Court recordings boomerang back at you
In this day and age of quality and relatively inexpensive recording devices, Virginia should join the 21st century by having its District Courts record their proceedings. Until that day comes, I will bring a court reporter or my audio recorder, depending on the situation.
Part II – Pausing Before Hiring a Former Prosecutor/Former Member of the Opposing Army
In seeking a criminal defense lawyer, one might ask what motivated the lawyer to the criminal defense path, and whether and why the criminal defense lawyer will stick with and fight like hell for his or her client through thick and thin, through all the...
The Magic Of Removing One’s Ego From The Battle
Our greatest opponent and obstacle to victory often is our egos and ourselves. When we remove our egos from the battle, then the magic of powerfully successful performance can begin.
Fairfax County’s former chief prosecutor said Virginia prosecutes “on the cheap”
Then-recently retired chief Fairfax prosecutor Robert Horan said that "Virginia has this longstanding desire to do criminal prosecution on the cheap.
A trial lawyer must constantly re-examine and improve courtroom performance
Successful courtroom performance necessitates a combination of thorough preparation and improvisation. The preparation is needed just as any battle requires preparation.
Obtaining victory by vibrating away the dung
If we let it happen, we are constantly bombarded with gunk, garbage and negative energy. With me, it can start with something as small as facing a choice between cursing or blessing the driver in front of me who sticks his stinky burning cigarette outside...
The prosecutors approaching their jobs as stepping stones, careers, aimless wandering, and fascist endeavors
One approach to persuading prosecutors is to consider why they became a prosecutor in the first place. The word is out on the streets that if a lawyer wants to become a litigator with a prestigious large corporate law firm, one should buck to attend...