For many years, I had the privilege of serving on Washington County’s Major Crimes Team. When people hear that phrase, they often picture flashing lights, courtroom drama, and high profile headlines. Those moments do happen, but they are only the surface. What most people never see is the long, disciplined process behind building a complex case from the ground up.
Major crimes cases are rarely simple. They involve serious allegations, complicated facts, and often intense public attention. Building those cases required teamwork, patience, and a relentless commitment to getting it right.
It Starts at the Scene
Every major case begins with a moment that changes lives. A crime scene is secured. Investigators arrive. Emotions are high. Families are searching for answers.
At that stage, the focus is not on court. It is on preserving evidence. Law enforcement officers carefully document everything. Photographs are taken. Physical evidence is collected. Witnesses are identified and interviewed. In serious cases, early decisions can have lasting consequences, so attention to detail is critical.
As a prosecutor assigned to the Major Crimes Team, I was often brought into cases early. That collaboration between investigators and prosecutors is essential. It allows legal guidance to shape how evidence is gathered and ensures that constitutional rights are respected from the start.
Following the Evidence, Not Assumptions
One of the core principles of working major crimes was simple. Follow the evidence wherever it leads. Do not force it into a theory that feels convenient.
In complex cases, there are often conflicting accounts and incomplete information. Witnesses may remember events differently. Forensic evidence may take weeks or months to process. Digital data such as phone records or surveillance footage can add layers of complexity.
Our job was to assemble all of it and look for consistency. Do the timelines match? Do statements align with physical evidence? Are there gaps that need further investigation? Sometimes early assumptions change as new information comes in. That is not a failure. That is part of doing the work honestly.
Complex cases require patience. Rushing to conclusions can weaken a case later in court. Taking the time to understand every angle strengthens it.
Building a Team Approach
No major case is built by one person. The Major Crimes Team functioned as a coordinated effort between prosecutors, detectives, forensic specialists, and support staff. Everyone had a role.
Detectives focused on gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Forensic experts analyzed physical materials, DNA, and digital devices. Prosecutors evaluated the legal standards and prepared the case for presentation in court.
Communication was constant. We met regularly to discuss developments, identify weaknesses, and plan next steps. A successful case depended on clarity and trust within the team. If something did not make sense, it was discussed openly. If more work was needed, it was done.
That collaborative environment taught me that strong cases are built through accountability. Every piece of evidence must stand up to scrutiny. Every witness must be credible. Every legal decision must be defensible.
Preparing for Court From Day One
Even in the early stages of investigation, we were thinking about trial. How will a jury see this evidence? What questions will they ask? What weaknesses might the defense raise?
Preparing for trial in a major case means organizing evidence in a way that tells a clear and logical story. Jurors are not legal experts. They are citizens trying to understand complicated events. It is the lawyer’s responsibility to present facts in a way that is structured and understandable.
That preparation can take months. Sometimes years. It involves reviewing thousands of pages of reports, meeting repeatedly with witnesses, and anticipating every possible challenge.
When the trial finally begins, the public sees only the final presentation. What they do not see are the countless hours of preparation that make that presentation possible.
The Weight of Responsibility
Working major crimes also taught me about responsibility. The decisions made in those cases carry enormous consequences. A charging decision can change the course of a person’s life. A trial outcome can bring closure to victims or uncertainty to families.
Because of that, every step must be deliberate. You cannot cut corners in serious cases. You cannot ignore weaknesses or overlook details. The burden of proof in criminal cases is high for a reason. The stakes demand it.
That sense of responsibility shaped how I approached every case. It also shaped how I lead and mentor younger attorneys. Discipline and integrity are not optional in complex cases. They are the foundation.
Lessons That Carry Forward
Today, in private practice, I draw directly from what I learned inside the Major Crimes Team. Whether I am defending someone accused of a serious offense or representing a client in a personal injury matter, the principles are the same.
Start with the evidence. Build carefully. Test every assumption. Prepare thoroughly. Respect the weight of the decision.
Complex cases are not built on emotion or headlines. They are built on teamwork, careful analysis, and steady leadership. The public may only see the verdict, but the real work happens long before that moment.
Serving on the Major Crimes Team was one of the most challenging and meaningful chapters of my career. It taught me that justice depends on process as much as outcome. When the process is handled with care, discipline, and honesty, the system works the way it was designed to work.
And that is something I carry with me into every courtroom today.