I tried a DUI in Anne Arundel County yesterday. This was the police officer's first ever DUI, so even though we were offered the DWI with a PBJ recommendation, I knew that was the worst possible outcome after a trial. The officer was like any first time witness,...
Here we go again. Do we go to the Courthouse or do we do it over Zoom? Well that depends on where you are going? And if you are going inside, not everyone will be allowed entry because of social distancing- witnesses and family members will be in parking lots...
Yesterday I had a trial in District Court. I even got started by 9:15 and it was over by 9:45. Credit goes to the Baltimore County Police Officer who was didn't guess when he didn't know an answer, and laid it out just as he remembered .The prosecutor called me the...
I just received the magazine and since 2007 I have received this recognition.
Carroll County District Court is open for trials. The dockets are only s few cases and times are staggered. I had no trouble trying a case on the 2:15 PM docket. This was a "new" case. The offense happened in August. Most cases are pre-pandemic closing. There...
The only upside for those not being detained is that it gives them a chance to complete the Program I have them enroll in. Because some of these cases are now a year old, the judges recognize that the client has basically been on successful probation for the year as...
I went to court today and there was no change in the cases being heard. Mine was a Leaving the Scene that might not qualify under Phase 2 guidelines. I was told to expect a change that would be announced next week. I just had two April 2021cases reset for December 15,...
Courts reopened today to different practices and procedures depending on the jurisdiction. I suggested and the MCDAA formed a Covid-19 Committee to get some uniformity for trial practice. Only a few judges have been interested in the Organization's input, although...
I was just retained by a new client. She had partially paid another lawyer who told her she had a 40% chance of getting the case dismissed. This soothsayer has not seen the police report nor the Body Camera footage. He could not tell you who the prosecutor is going...
The practice of criminal law does not stop when the courts are closed. I had a Bail Hearing this week- she was released and then the charges dismissed. The State is still sending discovery and Body Camera footage. How the courts handle trials when we reopen is in...
