3 pages legal memo

Supervisor Memo

Fact Pattern supplied by your Supervisor

Memorandum

To: Junior Associate

From: Supervising Attorney

Re: DC v. Blake

Mr. Jonathan Blake, a new client of the firm, recently requested our legal services in a criminal matter.

Mr. Blake was recently arrested for possession of a controlled substance by the Metropolitan Police Department. According to Mr. Blake, the facts are as follows: Jessie Smith and his wife are the co-owners of a residence at 3630 16th St. NW, Washington DC, 20015. Jessie Smith and Jonathan Blake run a catering business in the Smiths' basement.

Jonathan Blake was at the Smiths' house on Sunday, February 6, 2011, watching the Super Bowl.

Mr. Blake and two other guests were sitting on the couch watching television and smoking marijuana. The Smiths' home has a very large living room window. Police officers responded to a call from a neighbor about noise emanating from the Smith household. Officers observed Mr. Blake and his friends smoking marijuana through the large living room window. Officers also observed Mr. Blake hand a baggie of white powder to someone standing near the couch.

Officers then knocked on the door. After hiding the drugs, Mr. Smith opened the door and granted the officers access. When the officers came inside, they informed Mr. Blake and his friends that they had witnessed the transfer of a baggie of white powder between Mr. Blake and another gentleman and that everyone in the room had been observed smoking marijuana through the living room window. Police then observed what looked like a shotgun sandwiched between the cushions of the couch near Mr. Blake. Upon further inspection, the officers discovered three other guns underneath the same couch. The ownership of all four confiscated firearms is in dispute.

The officers then conducted a pat-down search of Mr. Blake and everyone else in the room. The officers found that Mr. Blake had on his person a large amount of suspected marijuana, suspected cocaine, and money ($400). Another occupant of the room had a baggie of suspected cocaine (white powder). Mr. Blake was then charged with possession of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of an unregistered firearm.