During the most recent legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly passed a variety of criminal justice reforms. One significant change implemented was in the area of bail and bond. Specifically, the General Assembly repealed the long-standing presumption against bond that existed for many criminal offenses. In practice, this meant that magistrates were not permitted to…
Are you wondering what to bring with you to court? In many cases, having the appropriate documentation will be the make or break in your criminal case as judges often use it to arrive at a decision. Don’t wait until the last minute to start gathering these important documents. Common examples of useful documents for…
There are a variety of ways an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you when you go to circuit court for a probation violation. Defense attorneys have experience cross examining probation officers and other prosecution witnesses, highlighting critical points that are beneficial to your case. Attorneys can also present documentation of your work history, substance…
According to the Code of Virginia “whoever…willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required, shall, after notice to all interested parties, incur a forfeiture of any security which may have been given or pledged for his or her release, unless one of the parties can show good cause for excusing the…
2020 Legislative Update from LeCruise Law – New Virginia Laws Go into Effect in this Summer The following legislation has been approved during the 2020 Virginia General Assembly Session and will become effective laws on July 1, 2020. The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) has published very useful summaries of these new laws and here…
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor in a general district court or a juvenile and domestic relations court in Virginia, you must note your appeal to the clerk’s office within ten (10) calendar days from the judgment of the court. Keep in mind that this does not mean that you have ten (10) business…
A commonly asked question of criminal defense attorneys is whether a person should turn himself or herself in on an outstanding warrant and what that person should do prior to submitting to authorities. Depending on many factors, a person is generally more likely to receive a bond (and be out of custody while their attorney…
A magistrate is a judicial officer who makes one of the most important decisions in any criminal case: whether there is probable cause to issue an arrest warrant. If you are arrested, the magistrate is also the most important person after the initial contact with police because the magistrate makes the first bond determination. Your…