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 **PRESS RELEASE**

Werkheiser for Delegate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2009                                                                                               
 
CONTACT: David Mason
202-230-8304
 
DUI LAWYER & COURTS COMMITTEE CHAIR PUSHES LOOPHOLE TO PUT DRUNK DRIVERS BACK ON STREETS
Albo's Conflict of Interest Exposed as Governor Calls Special Session to Resolve Critical Public Safety Issue
 
(SPRINGFIELD, VA)--With the fate of thousands of Virginia prosecutions hanging in jeopardy, the chair of the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee has called for defense lawyers to exploit a temporary legal loophole that will help put drunk drivers back behind the wheel.  
 
On July 4th, Del. Dave Albo (R-42) encouraged Virginia's defense attorneys to exploit the recent Melendez-Diaz decision loophole to help get criminals and drunk drivers out of prosecution.  "I think it would be malpractice if they don't," he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  Yet just two days later, Albo told Virginia Lawyers Weekly that this could be "the ultimate disaster" for the Commonwealth's criminal justice system and that it "needs to be fixed."
 
Gov. Tim Kaine yesterday called a special session of the Legislature to close the loophole and solve this critical public safety issue.
 
Albo's statements highlight a potential conflict of interest in his role as chair of the Virginia House's Courts of Justice Committee, which supervises judicial appointments.  Albo is a founding partner in Albo & Oblon, a self-identified "Virginia DUI defense firm."  The firm advertises its premium rates for traffic and DUI defense, charging as much as "$4,200.00 for first offense, low blood-alcohol-content-level cases."  The site even includes a detailed description of ethically questionable drunk driving defense techniques.  
 
"It is unacceptable that a State Delegate is promoting the use of a legal loophole that will put drunk drivers back behind the wheel and send business to his law firm, while at the same time calling for it to be fixed," said David Mason, Werkheiser's Campaign Manager.  "Albo needs to choose what is more important to him:  the success of his law firm or the safety of Virginia's families on our roads."
 
In 2007, Albo made national headlines concerning the conflict of interest between his law practice and his role as Courts Committee Chair.  His Abuser Fees Tax, which hiked traffic tickets to as much as $3,000 for Virginia residents, was repealed after over 170,000 Virginians signed an online petition against it.
 
Greg Werkheiser is the Democratic nominee for Delegate in Virginia's 42nd House District.  He is a non-profit director and educator who has dedicated his life to giving back to his community.  He lives with his wife, Marion, in the Charlestown neighborhood of Springfield.  
 
His website is www.gregfordelegate.com
 
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LINKS
http://www.valawyersweekly.com/weeklyedition/2009/07/06/lawyers-jump-on-dui-case/
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/article/CORT04_20090703-234201/278015/