MARKS & KATZ, LLC

Attorneys at Law

LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE - 32 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE

Practicing Law in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia

Since 1998

MILITARY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

DELIVERING YEARS OF IN-DEPTH CRIMINAL DEFENSE EXPERIENCE

Never Prosecuted - Never Will

-COURTS MARTIAL / MILITARY PROSECUTIONS

-FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS (TRIALS AND APPEALS) 

-DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED / DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

-DRUG DEFENSE (ALL DRUGS, INCLUDING COCAINE, MARIJUANA, AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS)

-OBSCENITY, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY & ONLINE DEFENSE

Repeated News Coverage of our Criminal Cases and Legal Views, including FOX CABLE, CTV & LOCAL ABC NEWS; CNN & WMAL RADIO; and WASHINGTON POST, BALTIMORE SUN & WIRED.COM.

Listed Online With National Institute of Military Justice's Practitioners List. 

Our Clients' Views - Click here. / More on our Experience - Click here. 

CONTACT US - We welcome your inquiries. 

HOW DO WE BILL? (Click here)

1400 SPRING STREET, SUITE 410, SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20910

(301) 495-4300/FAX (301) 495-8815

COVERED ON CRIMINAL LAW ON FOX CABLE AND CTV; LOCAL ABC NEWS; CNN & WMAL RADIO; WASHINGTON POST; AND WIRED.COM (click here).

 

IF ARRESTED OR SUSPECTED, HIRE A LAWYER

    Criminal defendants all too often have the mistaken belief that they should plead guilty if they in fact committed a crime. However, it is the prosecutor's legal burden to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt that a criminal defendant is guilty. A criminal defendant has no obligation to admit his or her guilt even if guilty. It is not a lie or crime for a person to plead innocent even if the person thinks he or she committed a crime. "Not guilty" or "innocent" are the essential pleas unless and until a criminal defendant determines -- with the informed advice of a highly competent criminal defense attorney -- that it is a wiser risk to do otherwise. Click here for information on Your Rights and the Police 

MARKS & KATZ'S APPROACH TO FIGHTING FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS

    A person is rarely in more time of need than when s/he is arrested for or suspected of a jailable crime. We go to the mat for our criminal defense clients, with caring, a passion to win, and with partner Jon Katz's many years of in-depth criminal defense experience. 

    When a client is suspected of a crime, but not yet arrested, we provide our client a full risk analysis, and advise not to speak with law enforcement authorities. We try to make the matter go away either by letting it disappear on its own, or by trying to persuade the investigators and prosecutors that their time on the case is not worthwhile or not justified. If a client learns of a pending arrest warrant, we try to get the warrant removed, or else we accompany our client to turn himself or herself in, to then argue for immediate release or for the lowest possible bond. 

    When a client is prosecuted in court, we immediately file essential legal motions and court notices to protect our client's rights, fully investigate the case with our client's input, and fully brainstorm with our client for a winning strategy. We fully prepare our cases to go to trial, assure a full grasp of the governing law, and absorb the evidence (both good and bad) to present our client's case in the most persuasive light. 

    Because a conviction is a possible outcome of a criminal case -- even for innocent people, unfortunately -- we fully prepare a careful trial record to make a stronger appeal of any conviction; we fully prepare with our clients to fight for the most favorable sentence in the event of a conviction; and we file and argue persuasive motions for sentence reductions. A conviction does not always need to be final, which is why we seek retrials when advisable, file and argue aggressive appeals, and file and argue vigorous post conviction and habeas corpus petitions. For acquittals and dismissals, we file petitions to seal or expunge our clients' public records or their cases. 

MEET OUR CRIMINAL DEFENSE PARTNER JON KATZ - Never Prosecuted/Never Will

   Our Criminal Defense partner Jon Katz early on developed a strong bias for the defense side of criminal law. Police and prosecutors have awesome powers that can be used for good but that also can be severely abused. Let us not forget that police abuse has included brutal beatings of civil rights demonstrators in the South, the killing of Amadou Diallo, and the brutal torture of Abner Louima.

    Jon began his criminal defense career in 1991, defending over one thousand indigent criminal defendants with the Maryland Public Defender's Office (1991-96). Public defender work is one of the highest callings a lawyer can fulfill, if the lawyer is able and dedicated to meet the challenge. The ongoing challenge for public defenders is to eliminate underfunding and insufficient resources. 

    Jon is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (1991-present) (Advisory Board Member, Champion Magazine (1996-present)), Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Legal Committee, 

WHAT DO CLIENTS SAY ABOUT JON? "Jon and his staff were meticulous, dedicated, and determined to ensure my rights as a citizen were fully maintained during my case. He laid out several scenarios on how things could proceed and stuck to the one that we both felt had the highest likelihood of success of maintaining my innocence - which was the end result. While I was financially constrained, Jon worked with me to ensure I had the best defense I could, which was more than I ever imagined! I keep Jon's card in my wallet and highly recommend him to anyone needing legal services." (From a criminal defense client).

"Mr. Katz has provided excellent service at competitive price for my case. Everything went on just as what he described in our initial meeting. I'm so satisfied with the outcome, and I'd strongly recommend this attorney! I really appreciate your effort you put in my case, Jon." (From a criminal defense client). 

PAYING FOR MARKS & KATZ'S SERVICES

    Marks & Katz strongly believes in charging a fair price for quality criminal defense (click here). 

FOR OUR CRIMINAL LAW NEWS COVERAGE, PLEASE CLICK HERE. 

OUR CRIMINAL DEFENSE-RELATED ARTICLES

Dealing With the Police (see our article on DWI /DUI Defense) (2000)

Driving While Intoxicated Defense (2000)

Drug Law Questions and Answers (2004- ) - Partner Jon Katz's drug law analyses and views in Overgrow.com's Security & Legal forum. 

Fighting for Justice Through Jury Trials (1997)

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense

How to Pay for a Quality Lawyer (2003)

In Praise of Sunwolf (2004)

Learning From the Trial Lawyer's College (1997)

Marks & Katz - Lawyers for Sexual Freedom (2002)

Marks & Katz Wins Dismissal Of Nightclub Prosecution In Maryland's Highest Court (2002)

Marks & Katz's Wins for Criminal Defense (Each case is different (e.g., with a different set of facts, law, and adjudicators), and this listing is by no means meant to indicate the results Marks & Katz, LLC, will obtain for future clients. Our goal, of course, is for winning advocacy at every turn).

Mounting the Medical Marijuana Defense (October 17, 2003). 

Opposing Embarrassment Sentences (2001)

The Plowshares (2000)

Protecting Immigrants in Criminal Court (2003)

The Sniper Case (2002)

When First Amendment Rights Prevent Criminal Convictions (1985)

Your Rights and the Police 

MARKS & KATZ, LLC - FIGHTING FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS

For representation in military and civilian criminal matters, please contact partner Jon Katz. 

OUR VICTORIES FOR JUSTICE/ YOUR RIGHTS AND THE POLICE

READ OUR DAILY UNDERDOG BLOG. 

CONTACT US - We welcome your inquiries. 

OUR ATTORNEYS/FOUNDING PARTNERS