Notes from practice · D.C. Superior Court
Trial Notebook as Security Blanket
I recently served as co-counsel in two juvenile cases with Eddie Ferrer of D.C. Lawyers for Youth. Although neither case ended up going to trial,...
Cross Examinations. Directs, too.
“No questions, Your Honor.” What could be more satisfying to say after your opponent has completed his direct examination than those four simple words? It...
Complaints, Excuses, and Justifications after a Lost DWI Trial
Before beginning my practice in Virginia, I went over to traffic court in Fairfax County to observe, and was struck by the large number...
On Trial Transcripts: Only the Stenographer Knows for Sure
Reviewing the transcript from a hearing or trial you have done can sometimes be a humbling experience. What you may have remembered as a...
Avoid Tit for Tat When Confronting Expert Witnesses
Guest Post by “Hamilton Burger” Every trial lawyer faces that sharp chill in the middle of the night, when your mind refuses to let...
Cross-Examining a Prosecutor
I have been called to testify in a criminal case. A couple of weeks ago I represented a woman seeking a civil protection order...
Brilliant Trial Lawyer or Simple Ass?
MR. KOEHLER: Objection. Relevance. THE COURT: Mr. Koehler, you can sit down. MR. KOEHLER: Your honor, this is absolutely ridiculous. MR. RIORDAN: No, it’s...
Tardy Prosecutors, Gutsy Judges
Judge Milton Lee of D.C. Superior Court takes the bench at 9:00 am. Promptly. Every morning. Without fail. One of my biggest complaints about...
“The One Question Too Many”
My colleague — the lawyer for the co-defendant in one of my cases – is annoyed with me. We each represent a person charged...
On Trial Tactics — Intentional and Otherwise
I am sitting in court waiting for trial to begin. The charge is assault on a police officer. I have just been given a...
A Public Defender Just Doing His Job
I am watching Mani Golzari of the D.C. Public Defender Service cross-examine a police officer at a probable cause hearing. Of all the cross-examinations...
On Police Officers and Other Bullies
I am sitting in JM-15 at D.C. Superior Court watching a Georgetown University law student cross-examine a police officer on a drug case. The...
Sometimes a guilty verdict is a win
Although Virginia juries have a reputation for being unforgiving, I have also been told that juries in Prince William County can be pretty unpredictable. Going...
Trial Ad 101: On Reading A Closing Argument at Trial
Sitting in Room 117 of D.C. Superior Court last week, I caught the tail end of a bench trial in which the defense attorney read...