Insights
Drunk in Public?
Public intoxication or swearing is a ticketed offense, with a small monetary penalty. So small that it may seem harmless to simply pay the penalty. But just simply paying the fines for a Drunk In Public ticket is the same as pleading guilty to the charge. And if you...
Were you wrongfully terminated?
This is a question that comes up a lot. The answer, typically, is no. Virginia is an “at-will” employment state, which means that an employer can fire you for any reason so long as it is not one that is prohibited by law. A frequently seen pattern is where two...
Announcing Law Office of Samuel C. Moore, PLLC
We are pleased to announce that the Law Office of Samuel C. Moore, PLLC, is now the Law Office of Samuel C. Moore, PLLC. We will continue to represent clients in the areas of criminal, civil, employment, and military law. Our office address and phone number remains...
The Investigative “Interview”
Even though it might feel like it, criminal charges don’t come out of nowhere. Investigations start when there is a report of a crime from the victim. In the military, this report is often made to the victim’s chain of command or the service’s criminal investigative...
Collateral Consequences of a Conviction
Following an arrest, many defendants worry about the possibility of a lengthy jail sentence or a fine that may accompany a criminal conviction. And in serious criminal cases, those factors do loom large. Yet just as often, it is not the threat of jail or a fine that...
VA Supreme Court Rejects Increasing Right to Additional Discovery
In a surprising move, the Virginia Supreme Court did not adopt any of the recently proposed changes to a defendant's right to discovery in Virginia criminal cases. While each party in a civil case has a right to nearly every non-privileged document that the other...
Four Facts that May Help You Understand Your Military Appeal
If you were tried and convicted by a court-martial then there’s a good chance you’re wondering what happens next. Since you’re reading this, you are most likely out of the brig. The next question on your mind is probably: what about my appeal? First off, it’s...
Religious Discrimination, Endorsement, Accommodation and Football (Part I)
I’ve been thinking about football lately--mostly because of the dramatic and seemingly overnight way Jim Harbaugh turned around Michigan’s troubled football program. Even with the heartbreaking loss to the Michigan State Spartans, I think it’s fair to say that the...
