Patrick Blanch is an accomplished and innovative trial attorney with particular experience dealing with legal and technical defenses. Patrick has been counsel on cases as minor as littering and as serious as rape and murder, and he has obtained acquittals or dismissals for clients charge with “life” offenses including rape and robbery.
Patrick also maintains a robust Appellate practice for individuals who have been convicted at trial but who believe that the Court made errors during their trial. Patrick’s experience in such cases extends to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and Supreme Court of Virginia, where he has successfully briefed and argued numerous cases. Patrick was trial counsel and appeal counsel in the case of Grant v. Commonwealth, in which the Virginia Court of Appeals set aside the conviction because the Commonwealth had violated his client’s right to confront his accusers as established by the United States’ Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. Mr. Blanch has also served as a consultant for cases being argued at the United States Supreme Court.
The Virginia State Bar requires every practicing attorney to attend Continuing Legal Education seminars on an annual basis to ensure that attorneys stay up to date on legal developments. Patrick has been recognized by his peers for his legal abilities by being asked to speak at four Continuing Legal Education seminars: the 2008 Fairfax County Bar Association DUI CLE, the 2010 Virginia Statewide Public Defender Conference in Virginia Beach, and the 2010 Virginia CLE Program “DUI Defense – Smart Strategy, Creative Tactics” in Fairfax County and in Charlottesville.
Before joining Zinicola, Blanch & Overand, Patrick gained valuable experience as an Assistant Public Defender for Fairfax County, representing clients charged with misdemeanors including Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Driving on a Suspended License, Petit Larceny, Possession of Marijuana, Assault, Sexual Battery, and Indecent Exposure. Patrick also served as counsel on many felony cases including Grand Larceny, Embezzlement, Construction Fraud, Drug Possession and Distrubution, Felony Assault, Robbery, Aggravated Sexual Battery and Rape. Mr. Blanch graduated from the George Washington University Law School after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. During law school, he worked at a Corporate Compliance and Lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. Email Patrick ([email protected]zbolegal.com)
