Beating an attempted drug possession case
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
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
People are contrarian
People are, I believe, naturally contrarian. The question is how to use this phenomenon to your advantage at trial.
Cross-examining a pro se petitioner in a CPO case
Trying a case — in this case, a CPO hearing — against an unrepresented party is always an experience.
Call me Mr. Reasonable
I suspect that my remote-hearing persona may be more adversarial than my in-person one. And this concerns me: What does this say about me?
A “chance encounter” at the airport
Q: Well, let me spell it out for you. At the airport, you showed up out of the blue, uninvited. Just like in the song. A: I had no idea she and her boyfriend would be there.
A “no-lose” question at a CPO hearing
You have to love the “no-lose” questions on cross-examination. Yes or no. You win no matter how the witness responds.
The stupefied police officer
Police officers have all the answers on direct examination. The clarity and animation disappear when it comes time to answer questions from the defense.
Truth=good. Lie=bad.
Complaining witnesses lie on the stand. This never ceases to amaze me. They could be telling the absolute truth about events that led to the criminal prosecution. But when they get on the stand and they are challenged on details during cross-examination, they abandon the truth.
