One defense to DUI that a criminal defense attorney may use is that the blood sample was not refrigerated properly at the hospital or during transportation. Sodium Fluoride and other chemicals are typically used to preserve the sample, but some say that even with preservatives, a sample left unrefrigerated for as little as an hour […]
Articles
Article Categories
Pennsylvania Court Narrows Definition of Reasonable Suspicion
When it comes to police stops, frisks, searches, and arrests, we’ve all heard two terms that are frequently used: “reasonable suspicion” and “probable cause.” These are two alternate burdens of proof that the State must meet in certain situations to ensure that the police action was legal. Stops and frisks must be accompanied by a […]
Pennsylvania Releases Restyled Rules of Evidence
On March 18th, Pennsylvania will adopt a newer, restyled Rules of Evidence. The current rules were adopted in 1998 and were modeled after the Federal Rules of Evidence at the time. But in 2011 the Federal Rules of Evidence were restyled to be easier to read, and Pennsylvania’s new Rules have been created to mimic […]
Dying Declaration Admissible in Triple-Murder
Cook County, Illinois Judge Ellen Mandeltort ruled on January 17 that a stabbing victim’s dying statements identifying her killer are admissible at his murder trial. 18 year-old Laura Engelhardt, along with her father and grandmother, were allegedly killed […]
What is a Governor’s Pardon?
In Pennsylvania, misdemeanor and felony criminal convictions cannot be expunged until the offender: 1) Is 70 years old and has not been arrested for 10 years, or 2) Has been dead for three years. Except for these two instances, the courts are powerless to clear one’s record once convicted. However, the Governor of Pennsylvania may […]
