I practice criminal defense. Besides the direct possible consequences of a criminal conviction such as incarceration, probation with home inspections, drug tests, counseling, etc. can come collateral consequences such as termination of housing privileges.Federal Housing Assistance, Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 Housing) provides housing assistance to qualified persons. The programs are

My client was terrified.  He was accused of grabbing a woman by the hands and puckering up to kiss her.  He denied any involvement.  I could not figure out a motive why the woman would accuse my client of this.  They did not know each other and had only met for a few minutes in a work environment.There were no other witnesses to the event so I needed to develop reasonable doubt

If you don't know and you have a Maryland provisional license receiving a conviction or even a probation before judgment can have dire consequences on your ability to drive and your ability to receive a regular license.Case in point-my client has a provisional license and he received moving violations in Maryland approximately one month apart.  My client thought it would be a good idea to pay

The Maryland good Samaritan law has been on the books since October 2015.  Maryland, like the rest of the country has been suffering an opioid crisis.  Maryland Gen. assembly made a determination that it was more important to protect lives then prosecute people. Basically, there should not be a criminal prosecution for drug possession if it is discovered because a good Samaritan called in

Judge Femia's MenuA LETTER FROM JUDGE FEMIAMy Dear Fellow Members:As most of you are aware, I am, at the direction of Judge Shelia R. Tillerson Adams, still processing the CA docket. The way I handle DUI cases has not changed over the last thirty-two years of handling the docket or indeed over the last forty-one years of my being a judge. However because we've lost certain resources and, as Judge Bill

Maryland has updated its uninsured motorist provisions as of July 1, 2018.Maryland Annotated Code Insurance Section 19-509.1 - Enhanced Underinsured Motorist (a/k/a "stacking" by lawyers and those in the insurance industry). Enhanced Underinsured Motorist (EUIM) coverage can be added to new auto policies issued in Maryland as of 7/1/18. EUIM coverage will provide better protection to any occupant

My client as a result of an alcohol test refusal was ordered to participate in the ignition interlock program. My client was unable to enroll and consequently his license was suspended. As bad luck would have it he was pulled over by the police and charged with driving with a suspended license as well as driving in violation of an interlock restriction.Montgomery County has recently changed their District

What I am about to blog about is at best distasteful and at worst may get me some hate mail Assuming anybody even read this).  The fact is that people are charged with heinous and disgusting crimes.  One of the more disgusting crimes is sexual abuse of a minor child."That's terrible.  How can you defend such a person?  They are defiling defenseless children.  They should be

Maryland has a very powerful public database, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search.  That database is open to the public whether they are in Maryland or in Timbuktu.  Anybody, be it a stranger, a possible employer, a third cousin or your mother, concerts that database.  That database can be searched by name.The person searching by name will find a great deal of information such as criminal

Recently I was retained to represent a young man charged with DWI. Everything about the case was fairly normal except for the breath test. The results were .25 g of alcohol per 210 L of breath. That's almost 4 times the legal limit in Maryland.Of course my client is presumed innocent unless the prosecution can prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I look at a DWI case from two perspectives. The