I've always taken very seriously the idea that individuals deserve protection under the law, and that the government should play fair. Criminal defense law is where the issues of freedom and liberty are expressed every day. But the government doesn't always play fair. The courts have also become increasingly numbers driven, pushing through cases as quickly as they can, and that means increasingly unreliable results. An assembly line has never meant justice. It's my job to see that you get treated fairly in the face of all of that.

I believe in the notion of presumed innocent. I enter into a case with the belief that either my client is not guilty or not as culpable as the government charges. I've represented many innocent people in my career who were wrongly charged but I feel strongly that even the guilty are entitled to be treated fairly. I do spend a lot of my time trying my cases. The government has to know that you're prepared to fight the charges - and take a case to trial if need be. Often that's the only way to ensure a fair resolution. Yet success at trial requires complete preparation. Particularly in criminal matters, a lawyer must work closely with his client, and get to understand the witnesses. Criminal defense lawyers today must also be familiar with forensic evidence issues and know how to evaluate and meet that evidence. Too often the government's "scientific" evidence is not based on good science, or has not been handled properly. In most of my cases, I work with independent experts to deal with forensic evidence. Because of all the dangers of unfairness that people face when up against the criminal law - a rush to judgement, a government with unlimited resources - a competent and experienced criminal defense lawyer is more important than ever. While no criminal defense lawyer can ever give a guarantee, I can guarantee my experience, qualifications and commitment to a case. The practitioners I most admire think carefully about the law - they file thoughtful motions and briefs - and they fight for the rights of their clients. That's what I have always strived for in my practice.