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
Criminal defense tries to avoid first-degree murder conviction
A criminal homicide case represents perhaps the greatest challenge to Pennsylvania defense attorneys in terms of the absolute focus and commitment demanded to effectively defend the matter. Total immersion in the facts and attention to detail is required. Where guilt is overwhelming, or where the criminal charge may be reduced to a lesser offense, a criminal defense attorney’s experience and track record of dealing with
Criminal defense in murder case requires intensive investigation
When a suspect is arrested days or weeks after the main perpetrators have been charged with a crime in Pennsylvania, defense counsel must carefully investigate to verify the facts that occurred. In some cases, accused suspects already in custody will provide the names of unrelated individuals simply to obtain preferred treatment by the police and prosecutors. An experienced criminal defense counsel will be attuned to
Family law decisions are not reflected in cable TV reality shows
The cable television soap opera called “Teen Mom 2” is filled with separations, divorces, marriages and custody battles. The program, however, should not be used as a real-life guide to these matters, whether one lives in Pennsylvania or another state. In family law cases, the adventures of reality television stars are not good signposts to determine how to measure one’s own strategies, lifestyles or actions. The
Drunk driving dismissal does not save truck driver’s license
Pennsylvania DUI laws require that an individual who refuses to take a blood-alcohol test is subject to a mandatory loss of his or her driver’s license for one year. For a commercial truck driver in that predicament, the driver will also lose his or her commercial license forever, according to a recent Commonwealth Court decision. The appellate decision has a couple of interesting legal issues
Are prosecutors pursuing mandatory minimum sentences?
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently issued a memo to the 94 U.S. attorney offices across the country, encouraging a tougher stance in drug prosecutions. Specifically, Session encouraged prosecutors to pursue every available drug charge, even if those additional charges might trigger mandatory minimum sentencing. Mandatory minimum sentences allow prosecutors to seek enhanced prison terms for drug, firearm and violent crimes. In practice, prosecutors might
Jeff Sessions reverses Obama policy limiting marijuana sentences
Pennsylvania’s drug sentences can be quite harsh, but those who are convicted under the federal drug laws are likely to find themselves in prison for a longer time than they might expect. Attorney General Jeff Sessions just reversed an Obama-era policy meant to reduce the sentences for people convicted of low-level, nonviolent drug offenses. Moreover, people who legally use medical cannabis are not immune from