Steve Duckett
Steve Duckett was born and raised in Northern Virginia and, but for the seven years he spent in college and law school, has lived there his entire life. Mr. Duckett graduated from the University of Richmond with a Political Science and Economics degree in 1994. Since receiving his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, he has practiced criminal law exclusively in the various courthouses in Northern Virginia, and is admitted to all courts in the Commonwealth.
Mr. Duckett believes that the key to a successful attorney-client relationship is communication. Calls and emails are always answered within one day when at all possible, and all clients will regularly be kept informed of any progress on their case. In court, Mr. Duckett aggressively fights for his clients at all stages of the case, and takes great satisfaction when his clients walk away from the courthouse knowing their attorney did everything possible to ensure a favorable legal outcome.
In his free time, Mr. Duckett volunteers to coach youth soccer and basketball teams. He has also spent many years volunteering for an environmental conservation organization.
Federal Court and Virginia DUI
- Successfully represented high-ranking member of professional football team in reducing charges from DWI to Reckless Driving using scientific evidence calling into question the validity and accuracy of the government’s breath test
- Successfully represented member of US Army in reducing charges from DWI to Reckless Driving, despite breath test that was twice the legal limit, by discovering evidence that the breath test was not properly performed
- Successfully represented decorated combat veteran who had been falsely accused of DWI, harassed by military police, and arrested despite having no intoxicants in his system. Received apologies from officers involved.
- Successfully represented client who was charged with a second offense DWI by arguing procedures used by police in collection of evidence were inconsistent with Virginia law.
- Earned dismissal of case where blood evidence was challenged by expert witness, despite alleged levels of alcohol and other drugs over the legal limit.
Virginia State Court
- Successfully defended professional football player in outright dismissal of Driving While Suspended charges.
- Successfully represented professional minor league baseball player in defending against charges including assault, abduction, and strangulation. All but one charge was dismissed and client was sentenced to time served.
- Successfully defended human rights advocate in felony theft charges, reducing the charge to a misdemeanor.
- Successfully defended confirmation-level White House administration member against Reckless Driving charge, which was reduced to a simple infraction.
- Successfully challenged lab result showing 33 grams of heroin, when it was in fact less than 3 grams. Commonwealth asked for six years in prison, but judge sentenced client to well below guidelines sentence.
- Earned dismissal of solicitation charges for client where proof was shown to be incomplete for each element of the alleged crime.
- Successfully represented hundreds of clients charged with Reckless Driving whose charges were reduced to something other than a misdemeanor or dismissed outright.
- Successfully represented international shipping company in reducing liability on an overweight case to 10% of the government’s original demand.