Featured Posts
How Your AI Chats Can Be Used Against You
A recent federal court ruling sends a clear warning to anyone who has discussed legal matters with an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude: your chats are potentially discoverable by a court, a government agency, or an opposing party in a lawsuit. I. A Case That Made Legal History In February 2026, a federal… Read More »
Sacred Spaces, Scattered Statutes: Understanding Virginia’s Fragmented Church Law Part One
By Robert Showers, Esq., with Justin Coleman, Esq., and William R. Thetford, Esq.* In this Article, the Authors have outlined portions of Virginia statutes, case law, and tax code that are most relevant to churches seeking to become more informed about their relationship with the law. The Authors intend this Article to make legislators,… Read More »
Church and Nonprofit Cybersecurity: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
Robert Showers, Esq. and Micah Schachtner, Esq. In line with nearly all modern industries, nonprofits increasingly employ digital technology and online tools to expand their operational capabilities. But unlike larger corporations with more risk awareness and legal jeopardy, many nonprofits apply few security measures to their data storage and transactions. This common failure to… Read More »
Recent Posts
Jury Acquittal In Complex DWI Case
On April 8, 2026, William “Ben” Mann, Esq., secured a jury acquittal in a highly unusual and complex DWI case—demonstrating the importance of experienced, strategic defense counsel when the stakes are high. The case arose on February 25, 2025, in the area of One Loudoun. Deputies observed a vehicle strike a median, causing a… Read More »
Challenging DUI Chemical Test Results in Court
Many people believe if they fail a breath or blood test, they’re automatically guilty of DUI. This belief is not entirely misplaced. The conviction rate in blood test cases is over 90 percent. The conviction rate in breath test cases is not much lower (around 80 percent in most jurisdictions). Although these numbers are… Read More »
What to Expect in an Ordinary Assault Case
Eventually, most defendants can expect an out-of-court settlement in an ordinary assault case. Over 95 percent of criminal cases settle out of court. However, “eventually” can be a long time, because a settlement is a process, not a result. Furthermore, it’s important to consider not only the direct effects, but the collateral effects as… Read More »
A Closer Look at DUI Collision Cases
Alcohol is a factor in about a third of the fatal car crashes in Virginia. These wrecks usually spawn civil personal injury cases that compensate victims for their economic and noneconomic losses. These wrecks usually also spawn criminal cases that punish drivers for their misconduct. Criminal cases are more common. Civil cases are essentially… Read More »
Statewide Property Seizures Continue
During just one week (February 25, 2026 through March 3, 2026), authorities claimed they seized over $1.2 million worth of illegal drugs. The Virginia State Police and partnering task forces combined to seize the property. totaled more than 170 pounds. The breakdown of total narcotics recovered includes: Cocaine: 6.1 ounces, Crack Cocaine: 1.9 ounces,… Read More »
What is the Drug-Free Zone Around Virginia Public Schools?
The drug-free zone around Virginia public schools is the same drug-free zone that applies to daycare centers, school buses/stops, public recreation facilities, community centers, and other protected places. The drug-free zone is usually 1,000 feet around the protected place. In many states, a drug offense in a protected place is an enhancement. But in… Read More »
A Closer Look at Reckless Driving in Parking Lots
Many people don’t expect to see “reckless driving” and “parking lot” in the same sentence. That’s probably why Section 46.2-864 of the Virginia Code specifically addresses such conduct. Pedestrians in parking lots aren’t looking out for reckless drivers. Additionally, reckless driving in a parking lot endangers property, mostly the other parked cars in the… Read More »
What to Expect in a Weapons Possession Case
Until the early 2020s, Virginia had some of the least restrictive gun control laws in the country. As of 2026, the Old Dominion has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country. These laws include both more prohibition and stiffer penalties. Law enforcement agencies have stepped up enforcement as well. “Go forth… Read More »
How a Prior DUI Affects You
Prior DUI convictions are always admissible for sentencing purposes, unless those prior convictions are expunged. A prior DUI conviction, no matter how old, gives prosecutors an edge during the plea negotiations that resolve most criminal cases. A prior criminal record is one of the primary factors in sentencing hearings. More importantly for purposes of… Read More »
Outcry Over Virginia Mosque Attack
Community groups demand that authorities upgrade charges against a man accused of a November 2025 attack against a local Muslim community center. The mosque says the same man has staged multiple attacks against Muslims. Surveillance video footage from the Dal al Nur Community Center in Fairfax shows the man berating women as they leave… Read More »
