by Lea Bickerton | Sep 10, 2009 | In the News, Pittsburgh City Ordinances, Proposed Laws
In a preliminary vote, only two members of Pittsburgh City Council voted to enact an ordinance that would prohibit the wearing of any device that would obscure one’s identity when committing a crime. Some members of council believed that the ordinance would...
by Lea Bickerton | Sep 10, 2009 | In the News, Pittsburgh City Ordinances, Proposed Laws
Pittsburgh City Council is currently considering an ordinance that would issue a $500 fine to anyone caught urinating outdoors on public or private property. Under the current form of the ordinance, anyone who urinates on property with the owner’s consent would...
by Lea Bickerton | Aug 25, 2009 | In the News, Judicial Misconduct
Former Luzerne County Juvenile Court judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan have withdrawn their guilty pleas. Under the plea agreement, Ciavarella and Conahan were to serve 87 months in prison. After concluding that the former judges did not comply with the terms...
by Lea Bickerton | Aug 23, 2009 | In the News, Mandatory Sentence, sentencing
Debra Erdley reports in the Sunday, August 23, 2009 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that while “tough on crime” laws have served to increase prison populations, there has been no corresponding decrease in the crime rate. According to State Senator Stewart...
by Lea Bickerton | Aug 15, 2009 | Case Law Summaries, Jurisdiction Issues
Commonwealth v. Derek Bloom 2009 PA Super 150 (7/31/2009)Topic: Police Jurisdiction – Port Authority PoliceSummary: The jurisdiction of Port Authority police (and other railway and railway street police officers) extends to any area that is in the immediate and...
by Lea Bickerton | Aug 15, 2009 | Case Law Summaries, Motor Vehicle Search, Suppression of Evidence
Commonwealth v. George Kubis 2009 PA Super 140 (7/21/2009)Topic: Seizure of a Vehicle Without a Warrant -Summary: Where the elements of the Illinois v. McArthur test are met, police may temporarily seize an automobile while waiting for a search warrant to be...
