On June 25th the Philadelphia Superior Court held in Commonwealth v. Safka, that EDR, that is, electronic data recording or “black box” speed data, is admissible in a criminal case to show the speed of a vehicle involved a crash resulting in death. Com. v. Safka, No. 1312 WDA 2012 (Pa Super. Decided June Read More
A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court wrapped a limited layer of privacy around our cell phones. The New York Times reported, that while the decision will offer protection to the 12 million people arrested every year, many for minor crimes, its impact will most likely be much broader. The ruling almost certainly applies to searches Read More
A Franklin, Pennsylvania, high school student went on a knife-wielding attack in April, leaving 21 students and one security guard badly injured. The attacker used two 8-inch knives to bludgeon and slash his way through the school, before police finally stopped and arrested the 16-year-old young man. He will be tried as an adult Read More
The Altoona Mirror reported that Blair County Judges reached a 4-2 vote rejecting the state’s mandatory sentence laws, specifically those imposing minimum sentences. This decision comes following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Alleyne v. United States, ruling that a jury should decide whether certain factors have been proven to trigger a mandatory sentence. Read More
After serving 32 years behind bars, a California woman’s murder conviction relating to domestic violence was overturned, and she is a free woman. The 74-year-old woman was convicted for a 1981 kidnapping and murder, but the jurors in her initial case did not hear the whole story. This, according to the University of Southern Read More
Rapper, sometimes film and television actor, and perpetual news bait Chris Brown has made headlines again after a judge ordered him to remain behind bars for a month pending trial. The sentencing follows Brown’s most recent probation violation. The terms of his original probation from a highly publicized assault occurring in 2009 of then-girlfriend Read More
After a DUI in Pennsylvania, you’re likely fearful for your driver’s license, your job, your finances, and your good name. In reality, most Pennsylvanians have no idea what the actual consequences are for driving under the influence, with some expecting much harsher penalties than they actually face and many others underestimating the severity of Read More
Healthcare Professionals: felony convictions get reported, statute amended. Be sure to consult with a lawyer on self reporting before the District Attorney does. See also 42 Pa.C.S. 9561 Report by district attorney. (a) Reports by district attorneys of felony convictions against health care professionals. –Whenever a health care professional has been found guilty, has Read More
As a college town, State College, Pennsylvania, has lively sidewalks, walkways, and intersections, always bustling with students and residents hurrying to class and work. This foot and bicycle traffic boosts the local economy and encourages people to get green and exercise. With all these pedestrians around State College, however, accidents are bound to happen. Read More
Social media has infiltrated nearly every facet of our lives, especially those of the younger generation. Some of this inclusion is for the good, while some of the roles social media has played have been shocking. One such negative use of social media recently caught national attention, affecting criminal law in Pennsylvania. An anonymous Read More