Several Alexandria attorneys discuss legal issues in Galway, Ireland. Photo Contributed
Alexandria — A group of Alexandria attorneys have continued their international globetrotting of teaching, lecturing and discussing intricacies of American law.
The latest stop was in Galway, Ireland, in April. They landed at the invitation of the National University of Ireland. On this third trip of the global effort, they met law students and their professors.
Chris Leibig, local criminal defense attorney, again organized the visit.
Leibig joined colleagues Jasmin Mize and Cary Citronberg of Alexandria to expound on defending U.S. drug cases and changing attitudes toward using cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana.
Among the major legal issues were human trafficking around the world and the effects of Edward Snowden’s leaking America’s technical secrets. Questions included whether Snowden was a hero or traitor for stealing and sharing classified information of the National Security Agency.
The Virginia attorneys coordinated mock jury selections and specifically participated in U.S., Irish and international law with Diarmuid Griffin, law professor at the National University.
Leibig served in the city’s public defender’s office for a decade. He is a leading opponent to Virginia’s death penalty. Currently he is defense attorney for several capital murder cases.
He was part of the three-attorney defense team for ex-Arlington deputy sheriff convicted of involuntary manslaughter of Julian Dawkins. The deputy, Craig Patterson, received a six-year prison term from a jury.
“One of the best things about this trip was that the students in Galway had many interesting and conflicting viewpoints about the prosecution of victimless or not so victimless, vice crimes,” Leibig said.
Mize is senior assistant public defender with Chief Public Defender Melinda Douglas.
Citronberg is an attorney in the Law Office of John Kenneth Zwerling.
Previous legal sessions have been held in Scotland and Trinidad. Invitations are being considered for the Bahamas, Jamaica and Rwanda.