Last week in a landmark ruling, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found compelled disclosure of a password violative of the defendant’s Fifth Amendment right against self -incrimination. In Commonwealth v. Davis, the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) executed a lawful search warrant on Davis’ apartment. Davis was being investigated on child pornography charges. Upon examination […]
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Loss of Gun Rights Requires a Jury Trial
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 […]
New Crime Bills Signed into Law with Budget
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 […]
PA Senate Approves Bill Allowing Local Police to Use Speed Radar
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 […]
Carrying Concealed Firearm No Longer Reasonable Suspicion in PA
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 […]
