Crime Time: With Virginia Defense Attorneys

We are very lucky in this episode to welcome back Mayo Wilson who was a guest on an  earlier episode of the show.  He is an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Office.  He is joined by Lula Kelly, who is the Diversion Program Manager for OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives, & Resources).  In Fairfax, OAR provides diversion programs, services for those incarcerated, post-release services, and family services.  OAR also services Loudoun County and Prince William County.    https://oarnova.org/In this episode Lula explains what OAR does and also shares with us what Taking Root is in Fairfax County. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/commonwealthattorney/taking-root This is for non-violent offenses and to be eligible the person must have an underlying issue that has led to their criminal involvement.  If accepted into this program, the person will receive a plan that focuses on their individual needs and treatment.  If they are successful in satisfying the conditions put in place then they often may have their charge dismissed at the end of the case. Mayo shares how the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney handles those applying to this program and ideally how things could play out if their office agrees to allow someone this opportunity to take root and start again.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

TIn this episode it is just the four regular hosts and.  Trespassing is a class 1 Misdemeanor and can be harmful to a criminal record even though it is not a felony or a crime of moral turpitude involving lying, stealing, or cheating, It can land people in jail again and again if they go back to places they have been banned from before.  This can happen a lot to those with nowhere to live where they just try to find somewhere safe and warm and comfortable to stay.  These cases can also often involve people with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.  Trespassing may seem simple enough but there are some interesting legal issues that can arise in proving these cases!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Please note that one of our regular co-hosts Anthony Nourse did not participate in this episode as he was recently appointed as a substitute judge in Fairfax County.  Due to the political nature of this episode, Mr. Nourse had to refrain from participating in this episode as required by the Canons of Judicial Conduct for the Commonwealth of Virginia.We took a looong summer break that lasted well into September but we are back with an all new episode with a special guest appearance by Blake Woloson who subbed in as a co-host for Anthony Nourse.  In this episode we welcome the two candidates for Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk.  They are currently on your ballot right now in Fairfax County and early voting has begun!  This is the first debate we have had on our podcast and the candidates kept it very cordial while still advocating for your vote in the November 2023 election here in Fairfax.  Gerarda Culipher and Chris Falcon are your candidates running for the head Clerk of Court in the Fairfax County Circuit Court.  We begin by having the candidates explain just what the job of the head clerk is and then we get into each candidate's vision for how they would handle the position if elected.  Below are the links to each candidate's campaign site:Gerarda Culipher   https://www.culipherforclerk.comChris Falcon   https://www.falconforfairfax.comHere is info on voting in the election (either through early voting which has just begun or on Election Day November 7, 2023 if you prefer to vote the ole fashioned way in person!)https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/upcomingLEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

This week, we were lucky to have a Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Mayo Wilson join us on this episode.  Mayo used to be an immigration and criminal defense attorney and he used to have his own law firm as well.  He switched over to the dark side, whoops we mean prosecution side right before Covid hit in 2020.  He tells us about his experience as an attorney and switching sides!  We appreciate how even keel he always is and how he can value a case and the evidence and balance both scales of justice!

We all know that video and audio are everywhere these days.  It is no different for jail calls.  Unless someone being held in a jail or prison is talking to an attorney on the phone or emailing on a tablet, those calls and messages are being recorded.  There are usually signs or notices right above the phones.  When you get on the phone there is an audio recording that tells you the calls are being monitored and recorded.  This is 100% true.  Anything you say can and will be used against you unless it is confidential or privileged information with your attorney.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

A fellow friend and local attorney George Freeman IV joins us in this episode.  We get to hear about his adventures as a bondsman and various other jobs he had throughout the years.  Then he educates us on the differences between a grand jury, regular jury, a special grand jury, and a multi jurisdictional jury.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

A video was shared in the news recently showing a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, lose control, and come across a grassy median separating lanes going opposite ways.  The car traveled over the grass and lanes of traffic to  hit a police officer who had another vehicle stopped on Fairfax County Parkway, that stopped vehicle, and the police cruiser. You can watch the video at this link:https://youtu.be/PtbcqXYfaoYIt turns out the driver was a juvenile who also had passengers in the vehicle.  So, in this episode we just wanted to raise awareness for juveniles and all drivers to be more careful, keep your speed down, and be alert to what is going on around you when out on the highways!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

In this episode,, we tackle a topic that many are curious about, that many do not understand, that many do not agree with, and one that is important to many many people.  We welcome a fellow attorney and friend, Brian Goodman, a Senior Trial Attorney with the Office of the Public Defender in Fairfax County.  Brian is also president elect of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a member and leader in various other organizations as well.  Brian explains what it is like for nonbinary and transgender folks to be in the criminal justice system and why it is so much harder for them.  We learned a lot and look forward to passing this knowledge along to our listeners.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Well, we made it 100 episodes!  Seems crazy we have come that far. In this episode we bring on Judge Lindner from Fairfax County to put us in the hot seat!  We all knew him when he was a defense attorney and continue to see him in the cafeteria and around the courthouse weekly.   He questions us about about various criminal law related issues, how we get business, and what we would want to be doing if we were not criminal defense attorneys.  Thanks for joining us on our 100th episode!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Please note that one of our regular co-hosts Anthony Nourse did not participate in this episode as he was recently appointed as a substitute judge in Fairfax County.  Due to the political nature of this episode, Mr. Nourse had to refrain from participating in this episode as required by the Canons of Judicial Conduct for the Commonwealth of Virginia.Every 4 years in Virginia, there is an election to vote for the head Commonwealth Attorney in each county  throughout Virginia.  This year, there is a fight in Fairfax County for the Commonwealth Attorney position.  The primary opened up for early voting May 5, 2023 and the primary itself is on June 20, 2023 which is your last day to get out to vote.  This year there are two candidates running for Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney: the incumbent/current Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano and his challenger Ed Nuttall.  Both are running in the Democrat Primary June 20, 2023 to try to gain the Democrat Nomination and only one of them will be able to run in the election on November 3, 2023.  There is no Republican candidate so unless someone runs as an Independent one of these two men will be voted in as Commonwealth Attorney in Fairfax.  We invited both of them onto the show but never received a response from Mr. Descano or his team.  We did get a chance to ask Mr. Nuttall about why he is running, what he would change, and how he would do things differently.  LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

When two of the four hosts on a podcast have worked as public defenders and one of the four hosts does a lot of court appointed and pro bono work, you have to bring on as many public defenders as you can because we recognize how hard a job it is to be a public defender or even a court appointed attorney.  In this episode, Shalev Ben-Avraham joins us in the hot seat as he shares his background with us and discusses various issues in the law.  Shalev has been a Public Defender in Fairfax, Arlington, and now still works as a Public Defender in Prince William County.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

There may come a time when your or someone you know has to testify.  In this episode we discuss if have to come to court to testify when you get a subpoena.  We also give tips on how we prep witnesses for trial or hearings and what a judge or jury may be looking for when they listen to testimony or are even just observing someone in court.  Our advice can apply to our clients and witnesses!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Pranks and jokes are usually funny to people  but sometimes the joke can turn on you. In this episode we talk about a recent case in Northern Virginia where a social media prankster gets shot after trying to make someone else a victim of one of his pranks.  We discuss what types of charges can come from this, the right to involve others in your pranks, when a prank goes too far, and who should be charged in these type of scenarios and with what charges.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

We welcome back friends of ours who have sat as a sub host and as a guest on our show on previous episodes. Chris Holley and Blake Woloson subbed in for Alberto and Anna while they were both out of town.  In this episode we talk about what is attorney privilege, are there exceptions, etc.  It may not be what you think it is and your statements may or may not be protected.....LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

We enjoy hearing about new laws and how things went in the legislature sessions so we were lucky to have Senator Scott Surovell back as a repeat guest.  In this episode he shares with us the issues and laws they tried to resolve.  There are some lively discussions about some of the law changes but it is always great to hear from someone who was there firsthand making law in Virginia.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

We do not get that many cases where someone is being charged with escape from a jail or prison but when you see a news article about it from your own state and you have a podcast, you sort of have to talk about it.  Here is the link to the article that inspired today's topic for the podcast: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/inmates-who-dug-their-way-out-of-prison-with-toothbrushes-caught-at-diner-nearby/ar-AA18WMvQ?cvid=4c713239f0dc41db829ec4fde93f5533&ei=23LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Mental Health is an important topic and anyone at any given time could experience difficulties with this type of illness.  Sometimes mental health illnesses are apparent and sometimes not so much.  In this episode, we welcome attorney Bob Walker onto the show as our guest.  He is experienced and knowledgeable about mental health civil commitment hearings and he educates us and our listeners about these types of hearings.  Bob has not only practiced law in this area advocating for rights of clients experiencing mental health illnesses as well as advocating for family or those trying to get someone help, but he also presides over these hearings as a  special justice for civil commitment hearings.  There is always a need for attorneys to volunteer at these hearings so reach out to Bob if you are interested!

As we get going in season 3 of the podcast, we welcome back Judge William Jarvis from Prince William County.  He has been on several episodes with us in past seasons and we are happy to have him back.  He always brings the questions for us and has us thinking about various issues in criminal justice.  In this episode our main focus is what is going on with juvenile justice reform. What should really be happening with juveniles who get in trouble? Should they stay in the juvenile system, go to the adult system, be supervised longer or differently than adults would be, etc?  And if we are making strides with criminal justice reform for adults shouldn't we do the same for kids?  

Hello Season 3!  Wow, time flies.  Our first episode of this season will be our take on Alec Baldwin's case.  He has been charged due to an accidental shooting on a movie set.  Prosecutors in that case had to determine who to charge, what to charge, when to charge, etc.  They had to evaluate the evidence based on what witnesses they have, photos, etc.  We decided to discuss this case to explain our thoughts on this may have gone in Virginia.  We also touched on how accidents happen regularly with car accidents and handling of firearms, etc.

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than to talk about Santa Claus aka Kris Kringle?  We brought in a friend and fellow defense attorney Matthew Kensky to help us dive into what happened in A Miracle on 34th Street.  We of course debated on whether it was really proven whether Kris Kringle was real. And then we talked about various parts of the movie and whether or not that type of evidence would have worked in a Virginia Court when it comes to a competency hearing.  We end it with whether we think the original movie or remake is better, who are favorite characters are, and Alberto gives you a little surprise to keep the magic of Christmas going.....LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

In this episode, we welcome Judge William Jarvis of the Prince William County General District Court.  We always enjoy having him on our show.  Last time he joined us we talked about criminal justice reform. So in this episode we revisit criminal justice reform and focus quite a bit on  the future of qualified immunity as well as what is working with criminal justice reforms that have been in place in recent times.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

If you ever find yourself in trouble with Virginia DMV or a Virginia Court when it comes to your driver's license, you may be curious about whether you can get restricted driving rights, when you can get it, and what conditions will be in it.  In this episode we try to explain various ways you could end up needing a restricted license and how it works.  Finally, we get into what happens if you were to violate any restricted license issued by a court or DMV.  Judges often remind drivers that driving is a right not privilege and when you need to get to work, doctor appointments, the grocery store, or have to get your kids to school, a restricted license can be your best friend.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

***This episode was recorded before the tragic shootings involving the UVA football players who were killed as well as those that were killed in the Tidewater area of Virginia in the Wal-Mart shooting.***Thank you to Blake Woloson for filling in last minute for Alberto Salvado who was under the weather (covid related) when we recorded this episode. We also are grateful to Chris Day, a local attorney who has a general practice which focuses partially on 2nd Amendment (firearm rights).  Chris joined us as a guest in this episode to talk about how your 2nd Amendment constitutional rights can be impacted by various laws and charges within the criminal justice system.  He also educated us on how to try to petition to restore your firearms rights in Virginia.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

We want to thank Deborah Casello for being a guest on this episode to talk about a topic that could impact anyone at any time. She is the founder of KEYS 365 a Suicide Prevention Nonprofit Organization focused on preventing suicide.  They are dedicated to saving lives through free, interactive, suicide prevention education designed for all of us.  This is a conversation we all needed to have and address given the stress that we all go through as attorneys in addition to what our clients, their families, our families, police officers, probation officers, judges, clerks, fire fighters, social workers, etc experience as well.  The links are to learn more about KEYS 365 and their free 60-90 minute workshops. Call 911 if you or someone you know is in danger or go to the nearest emergency room. https://www.keys365.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-casello-a8231321b/https://www.linkedin.com/company/keys-365/https://www.facebook.com/KEYS365orgTo follow on Instagram: KEYS365orgLEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

In this episode we welcome a fellow colleague/attorney/friend Joe Yoon.  Joe used to serve with the Army, is a local criminal defense, traffic, and bankruptcy attorney here in Northern Virginia.  Joe offers a unique perspective on what it is like to be in the military while also having to  navigate the criminal justice if you get charged with an offense.  He also opens up about being the son of Korean Immigrants and how his upbringing has guided him to be the attorney he is today!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

When  an officer pulls you over and you have had too much to drink or even when you have only had 1 drink, it can be confusing about what you are required to do when it comes to breath testing.  In this episode we dive into whether you have a right to refuse a PBT (preliminary breath test), the breath test at the station/jail (EC/IR II), as well as blood tests.  We also discuss what happens if you do refuse when you have no legal basis to do so if pulled over by the police.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Have you ever wondered what the difference is in the breath devices used to take breath samples? What about a blood test to determine your alcohol content?  Do you know what you are required to do under Virginia law?  Are these tests mandatory?  Are there any issues with these tests? In this episode we try to get into some of those very issues.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

In this episode we welcome a fellow attorney and friend Brad Marshall.  Brad is an attorney in Manassas, VA.  He was a prosecutor for years and then switched over to being a defense attorney. He still serves as a local prosecutor for a smaller part of the County and he gets to help educate law enforcement during their trainings which is something Brad did a lot of when he was a full time prosecutor. As we asked in the episode, what can't Brad do?  Check out this episode as he gives us insight into how law enforcement views criminal justice and their training.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Leaving your kids unattended can get the ball rolling for all sorts of things you may have never thought about.  You can be charged criminally.  CPS can get involved.  And sometimes your kid can even be injured.  In this episode we focus on parents or those watching children and how life can get in the way sometimes. You are tired, stressed, and/or distracted.  Or your kid is sleeping and you are just running into the store for one thing.  The car gets hotter than you think.  All of these things can lead you down a road to being involved in the criminal justice system.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

With football season around the corner, tailgates coming, hockey coming, baseball playoffs coming, happy hours back in full swing, college kids back at school, and the holidays coming, we decided the timing was perfect to talk about what happens when you are out in public and have had too much to drink....... This episode is just our way of trying to remind everyone to have a plan when you go out and when you have had too much make sure someone has your back and gets you home BEFORE you have to call one of us to help you! Don't be a DIP and risk getting a drunk in public aka "dip".LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

When you are a criminal defense attorney and you have always wanted to sit on a jury but are never selected because of what you do, you get excited when you find out a family member got to sit on a jury. Being a criminal defense attorney and having had a father who was law enforcement you also cannot wait to hear about what happens with a jury while a case is going on and what they really do during jury deliberations. In this episode we welcome Ann's sister Mary Kate Thayer (also known as MK) and her dog Rooney (named after one of the Steelers owners) on to the show to tell us about her recent experience serving on a criminal jury in Virginia.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Amy Jordan is an experienced criminal defense attorney and the Fairfax Defender's Office, their clients, the courts, and the criminal bar are lucky to know her.  If you ever get the chance to check her out during trial...DO IT!  She handles all sorts of cases but right now she is focused mainly on domestic violence, juvenile, and sex offenses.  So we brought her on to talk about sex....criminal cases. LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Being a criminal  defense lawyer is not an easy job.  You care about your clients.  Their lives matter to you ,  You want to help them the best you can.  It can weigh on you for a lot of reasons.   In this episode we were lucky to have a guest who used to do criminal defense.  In fact, he did a lot of court appointed work on very serious cases for those that could not afford an attorney. Joe Thelin joins us this week to talk about the reasons why he traded in his criminal defense practice for estate planning!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

With Anna out on vacation we brought in a sub host to take her place again.  This time we were lucky to have a local attorney who is also a substitute judge "sub" in for Anna.  Tamika Jones handles a mix of criminal and family law and even some civil cases.  She has her own law practice here in Northern Virginia.  Today we got to talk to her about what it is like to be a substitute judge and practice law. This was a great discussion and can provide some insight for anyone interested in wanting to try to become a substitute judge.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

So...since we talked movies we had to talk a bit about legal tv shows.  So we brought back Chris Holley and Blake Woloson to sub in for Anna again while she was on vacation.  We talk about our favorite law shows and whether we each prefer law tv or law movies!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

We thought talking about crime/court movies would make for a good episode.  In this episode we welcomed back Chris Holley and Blake Woloson who subbed in as a co-host for Alberto on past episodes.  They subbed in as co-hosts/guests for Anna who was on vacation.  Our focus was on movies and comparing them to what goes in real courtrooms or cases.  We also warn you ahead of time that if you have not seen some of the movies brought up in this episode there are some spoilers.....LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Sometimes you just cannot help yourself if you tried.  People get nervous in court and when they talk to the police or are faced with having to get an attorney.  We have all been in court and watched either our clients ("allegedly") or other people's client's tank their chances at a victory in court.  Remember, we always say less is more and SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!  LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

So usually WE hosts of the podcast get to ask our guests and each other questions.  This time, our guest Emily Salazar, a soon to be Senior at Highland High School in Fauquier County puts us in the hot seat.  She is interning with one of our hosts Anna Dvorchik's law firm for a bit so we decided to put her to good use asking us questions she had about being an attorney!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

This is a short and sweet after the July 4th Holiday weekend episode about entrapment!  We get a lot of questions from people about what is entrapment or field allegations from clients that they are only charged due to police entrapment.  So today we tell you what entrapment is and is not in Virginia!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

We went big in this episode and had 4 guests on this show from the Fairfax County Mental Health Treatment Docket!  We were lucky that Judge Tina Snee from the Fairfax County General District Court, Michelle Cowherd, the Mental Health Treatment Docket Coordinator, Christian Fernandez one of the Fairfax County Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys, and Negin Farahmand Wood, a rock star Fairfax County Public Defender all agreed to come on to help us educate folks on what a mental health treatment docket is, how it works in Fairfax, and why it is so important!  Judge Snee was our first female judge to join us on the show and we have never had a Commonwealth Attorney and Public Defender on together in an episode and we survived it so we may have to try that again!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

When you hear about abductions you probably think wow, someone was kidnapped.  Someone was held at knifepoint or gun point and not allowed to leave.  But abduction in Virginia has a specific meaning when it comes to bringing a charge against someone.  A recent case came out of the  Virginia Court of Appeals called Brown v Commonwealth which you can read about here https://www.vacourts.gov/opinions/opncavwp/0598212.pdfIn this episode we discuss this new opinion that just came out on May 10, 2022 and we help to try to educate everyone on how the simplest of actions can lead to a felony like abduction.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

When you think about the criminal justice system you may have known someone who got into trouble and had to go to court or maybe you watched something on the news or you saw a movie or tv show related to criminal justice.  Oftentimes people have ideas about what really happens in the criminal justice system. So we decided to throw out some different concepts and say fact or myth!  LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

The Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial ended and the verdict came in last week.  Depp won on all 3 counts and he was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages but the judgment for punitive damages will be capped at $350,000 per Virginia law.  Heard lost 2 out of 3 of her counts and was awarded $2 million dollars in compensatory damages and no punitive damages were awarded to her by the jury.  In this episode we break down what we think about the verdict and this trial that went on for several weeks here in Fairfax County.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Do you really have to show your ID when police ask you to give it to them?  As with many attorney responses, the answer is "it depends."  In this episode we welcome a friend and fellow defense attorney Kaveh Noorishad (also known as the "Persian Powerhouse").  We get into a lively discussion while we talk about some local statutes in various counties in Virginia as well as some case law that address this very issue.  If you are curious about what you should do when you encounter an officer who is asking for you ID, we are hoping this episode helps explain what Virginia law requires, what we recommend, and the consequences you face if you do not comply with what the law requires. LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Dave Gambale served in the US Marine Corps and he is the owner of Freedom Bail Bonds which is a company here in Northern Virginia!  We got him to come on our podcast as our guest this week!  We got to ask him questions about how he got started and what he likes about his job.  He shares stories of what it is like to be a bondsman and the issues a company like his can face.  Dave also shares with us how it works and what services they offer so people who have questions have an idea on what the bond process is really like.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

When a new Court of Appeals case comes out that catches our eye and raises some questions for us, of course we have to do an episode on it!  In this episode Woodson v Commonwealth is on our minds as the Court of Appeals opinion just came out May 2022.  Here is a link to the full opinion if you want to read it.  https://law.justia.com/cases/virginia/court-of-appeals-published/2022/0610-21-2.htmlBack when we were all younger spanking kids for discipline was not really something that caused a parent a second's thought. But here in 2022 there is still a raging debate about whether parents should use physical discipline at all, how it can mentally impact kids, at what age should quit using spankings, etc.  Listen to this episode as we share out thoughts on what the Court ruled in this case and how it can impact future criminal and family law cases here in Virginia.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

So.....with the Depp/Heard trial taking a break this week in court due to the judicial conference that posed a conflict, we thought we keep it going with our second episode about our thoughts on what we are seeing in this case.  Just keep in mind that our viewpoints are all different and some of us are following the case more than others.  This is just some friends/fellow attorneys having an informal conversation about the case since it is our very own courthouse here in Fairfax County.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Johnny Depp has been in a ton of our favorite movies.  Amber Heard has also appeared in various movies.  The case they have going on right now in Fairfax is a civil one for defamation.  This is a lot different than the cases we handle in the criminal world.  However, there are some similarities as the issues surrounding the defamation are focused on domestic violence.  In this episode we decided to talk about evidence issues like character evidence and the rule on witnesses.  These are a huge part of any trial and we wanted to explain what they are and what our thoughts are for some of the things that have come up in this trial.LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

The opioid crisis in Fairfax and statewide and throughout the United States is impacting so many people.  Fairfax County is making a huge effort to fight this drug and to help those struggling find a way out of their addiction.  In this episode we welcome back Casey Lingan who is the General Counsel for the Fairfax County Sheriff.  In addition to having Casey back on the show, we were lucky to have Laura Yager who is the Director of Health and Human Services at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and who has been working in the county for almost 30 years.  We also welcome Ellen Volo onto our show.  Ellen is the Coordinator for the Opioid and Substance Use Task Force here in Fairfax County.  These three guests along with Fairfax County Sheriff Kincaid are doing all they can to prevent deaths from using opioids and to put services and treatment and programs in place for those in the jail, on pretrial services, or those being sentenced for crimes where they have an addiction to opioids.  We all are amazed at all they are doing to help give people a fighting chance at a different path in life.In this podcast episode, our focus was on jail-based opioid services. However, Fairfax County also has a LOT of opioid and substance use resources available for the general public too: If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 911.Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) Emergency Services (24/7) - Available for people who have a mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or developmental disability in need of immediate help703-573-5679 | https://bit.ly/CSB247 CSB Fairfax Detoxification Center (24/7) - A short-term residential program to help adults safely detoxify from the effects of drugs and/or alcohol703-502-7000 | https://bit.ly/CSBdetox CSB Entry and Referral - Assessment and referral services available for youth, adults, and pregnant women including office-based opioid treatment703-393-8500 | https://bit.ly/CSBentryCSB Peer Outreach Response Team (PORT) - Peer support specialists available; any community member can be referred or self-refer703-559-3199 | https://bit.ly/CSBPORT Fairfax County Opioid and Substance Use Task Force - County-wide effort to address the opioid epidemichttps://bit.ly/3JJ18ThLEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

The criminal justice system and civil court system can be similar to one another in some ways. This is especially true when it comes to those that do not qualify for a public defender in a criminal case or a legal aid attorney in a civil matter.  A huge amount of those going to court cannot afford to hire an attorney but they also do not qualify financially to have one appointed or a court appointed attorney is not available for the type of case they are in court for at that time.  That leaves a lot of people on their own when they go to court for their case.  In this episode we were extremely lucky to have Vincent Smith an adjunct profession in poverty law and Nermin Abdel Abdel Wahab, a local legal aid attorney join us to discuss these very issues.  LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.  

Evictions and landlord tenant law have a lot of similarities to the criminal justice system.  So we were lucky to have two awesome attorneys join us in this episode.  Dipti Pidikiti-Smith and Colleen O'Conor are two local legal aid attorneys sharing their own opinions (not those of their place of employment) in this episode.  They helped to educate us all on why tenants need attorneys when they go for these hearings. If you are at risk of losing your housing or your landlord is trying to evict you or you have criminal charges that can impact your housing please listen to this episode and at least consult with an attorney before going to court!LEGAL DISCLAIMER:If you are listening to this podcast, thank you!  We sincerely hope you are listening to this podcast for its entertainment value and not with the intention of acquiring legal advice for any individual case or situation.  I mean, come on! You wouldn't take advice from someone you have never met or spoken to directly, right?   If you were bleeding profusely, you wouldn't listen to a podcast in hopes of a bandage somehow materializing over the internet and onto your 3D printer.  Seeking actual legal advice can be just as important as a tourniquet.  The hosts of this podcast are in no way intending to create an attorney-client relationship with any listener.  Sorry.  We are sure you all are great people but we cannot stress enough how little we know of you and your case and rather than risk an awkward moment, let us just remember we have never met.  Nothing on this platform be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation!  We are just a group of friends with differing opinions and viewpoints which we will try to explore through discussions of current events, law changes, and whatever else floats our fancy.