The “Rule of Lenity” in D.C.
June 12, 2022
According to the “Rule of Lenity,” a court should construe any ambiguity in the language of a criminal statute in favor of the defendant.
On working with indigent criminal defendants
May 13, 2022
Five tips for representing indigent criminal defendants: (1) never push a plea, (2) don’t defend the system, (3) never contradict your client, (4) a light touch often works best, and (5) a thick skin will prevent burnout.
Online DUI Programs and Courses in D.C.
April 3, 2022
Find out more here about online DUI programs and courses that have been approved by the Office of the Attorney General in Washington, D.C.
On the “Claim of Right” Defense in D.C.
March 14, 2022
Although “claim of right” is a valid defense to robbery and other theft offenses, the defense fails when the defendant takes more than the property whose ownership is in question.
Webex Login for D.C. Superior Court Criminal Division Courtrooms
March 11, 2022
Here is the information you will need to log in by Webex video or phone to D.C. Superior Court Criminal Division courtrooms.
D.C. Superior Court Criminal Division: Judicial Assignments for 2022
Here are the 2022 Judicial Assignments for the D.C. Superior Court Criminal Division
The “forfeiture-by-wrongdoing” doctrine in Hairston
December 13, 2021
Under the ‘forfeiture-by-wrongdoing doctrine, a defendant forfeits his Sixth Amendment right to be confronted by a witness against him, as well as his objection to the introduction of hearsay, if he wrongfully procured the unavailability of that witness with the purpose of preventing the witness from testifying.
Bias and corruption in Jones v. US
December 6, 2021
Bias can be “a favorable or friendly feeling toward a party.” It can also be hostility toward someone, a motive to lie out of self-interest, and/or corruption.
Beating an attempted drug possession case
December 3, 2021
Now that DFS has lost its accreditation, the government is looking for creative ways to prosecute drug possession cases, including amending the charges to attempted possession. There are equally creative ways to counter this strategy.
Cross-examining a GRU officer
November 30, 2021
I won a motion to suppress in a drug case yesterday. The win was particularly gratifying in that it involved the notorious gun recovery unit (GRU) from the Metropolitan Police Department. One of the lead officers for the GRU… Read More
