Trials

Recently in a criminal trial that I won, my client seemed concerned when the judge was overruling some of my objections, while he also sustained a number of my objections in between. It is always important for a criminal defense lawyer to prepare his or...

Soldiers and street fighters battle without referees nor the expectation of referees' presence. They fight in the law of the jungle. As we approach four years of the buffoon-elect in chief's White House tenure, I have low overall expectations of Trump's upcoming nominees to...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

Then-recently retired chief Fairfax prosecutor Robert Horan said that "Virginia has this longstanding desire to do criminal prosecution on the cheap.

Successful courtroom performance necessitates a combination of thorough preparation and improvisation. The preparation is needed just as any battle requires preparation.