Maryland: Rookie Fairfax Judge Michael Cantrell busted for DUI in Calvert County
From The Chesapeake Today
SOLOMON’S ISLAND, MD. – A Fairfax County District Court Judge who has not served one year yet on the bench in Virginia was arrested for DUI in Calvert County, Md., on April 28, 2017, at 11:09 pm by Calvert Deputy J. Curtin.
Michael Harry Cantrell, of 3902 Clares Court, in Fairfax, Va., was charged with driving while impaired by alcohol as he operated a 2013 GMC on Maryland Rt. 2 at Langley Lane, in Solomon’s, Maryland.
Judge Cantrell will appear before a Maryland District Court Judge on Aug. 16, 2017, in Prince Frederick.
Solomon’s Island is a popular tourist destination and night spot on the Patuxent River.
Judge Cantrell has employed the services of high-powered criminal defense attorney William C. Brennan Jr., of Greenbelt to be his mouthpiece on the two counts of driving while impaired. Brennan is recognized as one of the top lawyers in Washington and has practiced criminal law for forty years. He is a partner at BrennanMcKenna.
From Fairfax County profile of Judge Michael Harry Cantrell:
Michael Cantrell receives official Fairfax County General District Court commission July 21, 2016, at 4 p.m.
Served as a substitute judge for General District Court from 2013 through 2016.
In private practice, he specialized in criminal defense work and representing juvenile offenders.
Judge Michael Cantrell will be presented his official commission as a Fairfax County General District Court judge on Thursday, July 21, 2016, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax Courthouse, Courtroom 5J, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony and the reception that follows.
At the ceremony, State Sen. Dave Marsden will present him with the official commission and former Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Jonathan C. Thatcher will ceremonially administer the oath of office. Cantrell was elected by the Virginia General Assembly to fill a vacancy on the court.
Cantrell served as a General District Court substitute judge from 2013-2016 and heard cases involving traffic, criminal and domestic relations. In private practice since 1989, he specialized in criminal defense work and represented juvenile offenders throughout the Northern Virginia area. He has been active with community service work in Fairfax County and has received the prestigious Arnold B. Kassabian Memorial Award, The Golden Gavel Award and official recognition for his efforts by the Fairfax County Police, Sheriff’s Department and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
A Fairfax County native, Cantrell graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. He received his bachelor’s of social work from James Madison University and was subsequently employed by the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for 10 years. He received his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law in 1988. He has been in private practice as a sole practitioner since January 1989.
