Manassas, VA criminal defense attorney Steve Duckett talks about a memorable DUI case he handled. He recalls one of his most memorable cases from 2009, coinciding with the landmark Supreme Court decision Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. The ruling established that the government could no longer introduce a lab report or certificate of analysis without the person who prepared it appearing in court to verify its authenticity. Prior to this decision, such certificates were routinely admitted without the analyst’s testimony, presenting a significant opportunity for defense.

That morning, while in Fairfax County General District Court, he proceeded to trial on a case he was handling, despite having few conventional defenses. When the Commonwealth attempted to introduce a certificate of analysis, he objected based on Melendez-Diaz. Both the judge and the prosecutor were initially unfamiliar with the ruling. After taking a brief recess to review the decision, the judge returned and immediately sustained his objection, resulting in a favorable outcome for his client.