Month: July 2017
Medical marijuana in PA: Will AG Sessions prosecute?
Marijuana laws have been gradually changing in states across the country, and Pennsylvania is now among 29 states, along with Washington, D.C., to legalize medical marijuana. The state health department recently announced that 29 entities will be permitted to dispense medical marijuana at 52 locations across Pennsylvania. The medical marijuana program is expected to become operational in 2018. Marijuana laws in Pennsylvania and other states
Pennsylvania criminal defense may face expanded role of DNA
Lawmakers on the lookout for new ways to fight crime may feel compelled to support proposals that promise sweeping protections for society. In Pennsylvania, a bill has just moved to the Senate after the House approved it with a 157 to 32 vote. Writers of the bill expect the new law to reduce violent crime and protect the innocent from false accusations. However, some criminal
Family law: Child custody is based on good adult parenting
Experienced family law attorneys in Pennsylvania know that there are some basic principles of child custody law that must be followed by each parent. When those basic principles of rational parenting are ignored or manipulated by a parent, the family law judge presiding over the case will usually spot the violative behavior or attitude quite readily. The judge will usually treat that factor accordingly when
Don’t let a traffic stop prevent you from getting to class
You cruise down the street almost every day. You drive to the grocery store to get some food. Sometimes you meet up with your study group to prepare for the next big exam. Other times you drive to hang out with friends. You never want to look in the rearview mirror and see flashing lights—especially on the way home from a party. Getting pulled over
Court prohibits warrantless blood test in drunk driving case
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently delivered a ruling that forbids police from taking a blood sample to test for DUI from an unconscious suspect. The decision is not surprising because it appears to parallel U.S. Supreme Court decisions in drunk driving cases. It is a Fourth Amendment violation for authorities to conduct a search in that manner. It is also tantamount to compelling an individual
Family law case may call for care when telling spouse of divorce
Family law in Pennsylvania, like anywhere else, can include divorce cases that manifest emotional outbursts by one or both spouses. The experienced family law attorney will always assess the client’s emotional status and make strong recommendations where it appears appropriate. When a spouse approaches the estranged partner to initiate discussions of divorce, it can sometimes be a traumatic circumstance that must be approached with due
Road-rage suspect: Criminal defense to first-degree murder on tap
Pennsylvania like other states is plagued with occasional instances of serious violence emanating from incidents of road rage. When an innocent life is lost because of senseless road rage, the alleged perpetrator will potentially face the maximum penalties available under law. Nonetheless, even when such reprehensible acts are proved to be true, the accused is entitled to be represented by a competent criminal defense lawyer