Notes from practice · D.C. Superior Court
Starting a criminal defense practice after Covid
The changes now being effected in response to the pandemic — specifically the trend toward on-line hearings — could pose challenges for new lawyers seeking...
Criminal defense in the Covid era
We will learn. We will adapt. But as with so many other things in our lives, there will be the pre- and the post-Covid eras....
Writing about Covid-19 and the D.C. jail
How do you write about COVID-19 and the D.C. jail without resorting to hyperbole? How do you ask the judge to bend the rules?...
Judges are human
The judge does not say: I am not willing to take your word for this, and I need to have a law clerk check this...
Dealing with the crazies in C10
With almost 100 people making their way through arraignment court every day, it is inevitable that there will be a melt-down or two. After all,...
I like Mr. Williams
There are tons of criminal defense lawyers eager to tell their war stories. But how many people have been acquitted of a felony criminal offense?...
A prosecutor is caught in a lie
An Assistant U.S. Attorney has been referred for disciplinary action after being caught misrepresenting facts before a U.S. District Court....
How long does it take to seal/expunge a criminal record?
The process after filing normally takes four to six months after filing in D.C. This includes a 60-day period for the government to respond....
Can you seal/expunge a felony?
The first option for sealing a felony arrest in D.C. would be to file a motion immediately on the grounds of actual innocence under D.C....
The difference between expunging and sealing a criminal record
“Expungement” of a criminal record suggests that it is destroyed, thereby restoring the person to the position he/she occupied before the arrest. “Sealed” records still...
“The man who represents himself has a fool for a client”
The man standing at the bar of the court is a nicely dressed, middle-aged white guy. He looks like a lawyer. That’s because, as it...
Should I enter into a “CPO without admissions” in D.C.?
A person who has been served with a CPO petition in D.C. can enter into a “consent CPO without admissions.” The CPO is granted to...
Handling a U.S. Citation Case in D.C. Superior Court
Here is what every lawyer appearing in D.C. Superior Court should know about handling an arraignment for a U.S. citation....
D.C. Superior Court Criminal Calendar: 2019 Judicial Assignments
Felony 1 Calendar Judge Ronna Beck, Room 316 Judge Danya Dayson, Room 318 Judge Craig Iscoe, Room 313 Judge Milton Lee, Room 302 Judge Juliet...
The Reconstituted CJA Panel in D.C.
Every four years, D.C. Superior Court re-establishes the panel of criminal defense lawyers who are eligible to accept court appointments. The first re-establishment occurred...