Barely Famous The Human Side Of Criminal Defense With Kayla Murphy
Mar 27, 2026
Kayla Murphy, a Washington criminal defense attorney who runs her own firm and co-hosts Drinks With Defenders, breaks down plea deals, public defenders, jury selection, and domestic violence arrest dynamics. She talks about when to hire counsel, why many cases plead, search consent, and the emotional weight of defending people during their hardest moments.
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Immediately Invoke Your Right To Counsel
- Always ask for an attorney and do not speak to police; unequivocal invocation protects you because cops can legally lie.
- Kayla stresses say plainly "I am asking for an attorney. I'm not going to talk to you."
Never Voluntarily Consent To A Car Search
- Do not consent to vehicle searches; refuse consent to preserve legal challenges later.
- Kayla recommends saying "I'm not consenting to that" so attorneys can contest warrantless searches afterwards.
Client Testimony And The Fifth Often Backfire
- Having a client testify or plead the Fifth usually harms the defense because silence looks like admission to jurors.
- Kayla notes she has rarely won trials where clients testified and that pleading the Fifth appears incriminating.
