Formal arraignments occur after a preliminary hearing when a magisterial district or municipal court judge moves your case to a Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. It is a hearing where you are officially informed of your charges and enter your plea. A formal arraignment usually occurs within 30 to 60 days of your preliminary […]
Pena-Rodrigues v. Colorado: SCOTUS Curbs Racial Bias
In the recent case of Pena-Rodrigues v. Colorado, 580 U.S. _ (2017), the United States Supreme Court held that when a juror makes a clear statement indicating that he or she relied on racial bias in convicting a criminal defendant, the Sixth Amendment requires that the no-impeachment rule yield to permit the trial court to consider […]
Philadelphia Criminal Lawyer Update: PA Superior Court Rules Trial Court’s Refusal to Strike Juror Who Was Former Member of Law Enforcement Permissible
The case is Commonwealth v. Hale, _ A.3d _, 2014 Pa. Super. 19 (Feb. 6, 2014). The court began by stating that ‘challenges for cause should be granted: (1) when the potential juror has such a close relationship, be it familial, financial or situational, with parties, counsel, victims, or witnesses, that the court will presume […]
SCOTUS Bars Prosecution in Commonwealth v. George
In the recent case of Commonwealth v. George, the defendant pleaded guilty to two cocaine deliveries that were made in 2007, he was sentenced and served his time. He was later charged by grand-jury presentment with two counts of corrupt organizations and one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, stemming from his narcotics-trafficking activity prior […]
Phil. PD and UPenn Create a High-Tech Surveillance Center
As reported in the Daily Pennsylvanian, the Philadelphia Police Department and the University of Pennsylvania have combined forces to create a high-tech, real-time surveillance center. Criminal lawyers practicing in Philadelphia County should be mindful of the resources of the Philadelphia Police Department because their resources could provide evidence that could exonerate defendants.If you enjoyed this […]
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