Pennsylvania Criminal Law

I’m researching a point of law on the two-hour rule.  I came across a fellow attorneys’ site (Morrow & Artim, Pittsburgh, PA) that has a great list of Pennsylvania DUI cases.  I’ve included the first seven below; click on the link below the list to go to their site to see the remaining cases. For most [...]

I always chuckle when the media reports in ever-so-serious tones that so-and-so plead “Not Guilty” at his Arraignment.  Everyone pleads “Not Guilty” at their Arraignment.  Pleading guilty is done after filling out a long form and being read the long list of rights the defendant is giving up.  We don’t slow down arraigning dozens of [...]

Forgive me, brothers and sisters, just need to get this off my chest … To all you spammers out there: Dudes, you spend so much time trying to sneak comments into posts that embed links for Luxury Beds and Footwear and Great Investment! and … oh, the list is endless.  Do you notice that none [...]

I had two Preliminary Hearings today.  I was wired for sound on both, and, to boot, in front of a Magistrate Judge new to me.  I introduced myself around.  My first impression of the Judge was that he looked both serious and seasoned – a good combination.  And, humorously but with a hint of humbleness [...]

I’m just writing here.  No discussion of the law, or at least not too much of it.  It’s just that something struck me the other day. I met with a guy in jail.  Simple enough underlying event – would go into an abandoned house to smoke some weed away from peering eyes and noses.  A [...]

I caught opposing articles on a supposed scientific fact.  Article 1: New chemical analyses have found that Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Diet Coke, and Diet Pepsi contain high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a known animal carcinogen. The carcinogen forms when ammonia or ammonia and sulfites are used to manufacture the “caramel coloring” that gives those sodas their [...]

There’s an unsurprising change in attitudes when crime leaves abstraction behind.  A person condemns the government for putting people to death until their daughter is dismembered.  Someone is pro-Death Penalty until they watch up close the trial of an acquaintance and see that “truth” and “justice” are concepts foreign in the courtroom.  I chuckled silently when I [...]