In a precedential opinion in Fields v. City of Philadelphia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled today that the recording of police during the discharge of their official duties is protected by the First Amendment. To read Fields, click here. If you enjoyed this post, check out this article about criminal defense. […]
Police Need a Warrant to Search a Personal Computer
On June 5, 2015, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided the case of Commonwealth v. Sodomsky, 2015 PA Super 133 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015), wherein it held that police need a warrant to search a personal computer, even where the computer was not in the possession of the defendant, but at a computer store for servicing. […]
New Survey of Doctors Reveals Possible Excessive Force
A new study reveals that 98% of doctors who treat recently arrested suspects for injuries believe excessive force was the cause of the injuries, and 65% of the doctors surveyed say they suspected two or more cases of excessive force per year. Those who are critical of the survey point out that the doctors surveyed […]
Consent to Search Invalidated By Police Conduct
The Pennsylvania Superior Court in Commonwealth v. Moyer, 2008 Pa. Super. 173 (2008), holds a consent to search person and car vitiated as involuntary due to coercive circumstances. The relevant facts of the case are as follows: Two state troopers noticed the defendant’s car with one tail light with a hole in the cover, exposing […]
