Articles

Loss of Gun Rights Requires a Jury Trial

Filed under: Criminal Law, News by Contributor @ October 26, 2019

The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that crimes that lead to loss of the right to possess a gun require a jury trial. In Anderson v. Eighth Judicial District Court, defendant Christopher Anderson was accused of misdemeanor domestic battery. Anderson argued that he was being denied his Sixth Amendment right to a jury by having […]

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New Crime Bills Signed into Law with Budget

Filed under: Criminal Law, News by Contributor @ July 11, 2019

Governor Tom Wolf signed several crime bills into law with the 2019-2020 budget. House Bill 315 criminalizes female genital mutilation, making it a first-degree felony. The new law also adds that custom and consent are not defenses to this crime. House Bill 502 amends the Crime Victims Act. The Act now allows the victim to […]

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PA Senate Approves Bill Allowing Local Police to Use Speed Radar

Filed under: Criminal Law, News by Contributor @ June 29, 2019

The Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 607 on Tuesday, which would allow local municipal police to use radar to detect drivers’ speed. Pennsylvania is currently the only state that does not allow this procedure already. Right now only state police are allowed to use radar to clock your speed. According to the bill, police officers […]

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Carrying Concealed Firearm No Longer Reasonable Suspicion in PA

Filed under: Criminal Law by Contributor @ June 9, 2019

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided that possession of a concealed firearm in public does not give police reasonable suspicion to stop and frisk the person. This ruling overrules a superior court decision from 1991, and has broad implications for concealed carry license holders and anyone who has been stopped by police based upon having […]

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Warrantless Search of Cellphone Left in Public Place Constitutional even if You Plan to Come Back for Phone

Filed under: Criminal Law by Contributor @ May 19, 2019

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has affirmed the Delaware County trial court’s denial of Vincent Kane’s Motion to Suppress evidence obtained from his cell phone without a warrant. The decision will have a trickle down effect on other cases where evidence is obtained without a warrant. The decision in Commonwealth v. Kane stems from an incident […]

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