by Lea Bickerton | Feb 19, 2009 | Evidentiary Issues
A recent report from the National Academy of Sciences casts doubt on the effectiveness of American crime labs. The report indicates that, due to problems with funding, the quality of the science used, and the lack of dependable standards, much evidence used in court...
by Lea Bickerton | Feb 19, 2009 | Criminal Law Basics, How to Pick a Lawyer
How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer:Many people who go in search of a criminal defense attorney have never been in any type of trouble with the law and don’t know where to begin. There are even some who have past experience with the justice system who...
by Lea Bickerton | Feb 19, 2009 | Traffic Ticket
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Pittsburgh City Police, University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University police issued 33 citations and 14 warnings during a targeted pedestrian safety enforcement. Tickets were issued to drivers for failure to yield to...
by Lea Bickerton | Feb 13, 2009 | Case Law Summaries, Criminal Law and Immigration Issues
Commonwealth v. Nava 2009 PA Super 28 (2/11/2009)Topic: State Judge requiring Illegal Alien to Leave PennsylvaniaSummary: State judges are permitted to investigate the citizenship status of a defendant. Further, a sentencing judge may not order an illegal alien to...
by Lea Bickerton | Feb 13, 2009 | Case Law Summaries, Guilty Pleas
Commonwealth v. Stutler 2009 PA Super 30 (2/11/2009)Topic: Use of Statements Made as a Result of Plea NegotiationsSummary: Where the defendant’s statement is involuntary and/or solicited and the defendant is under arrest, statements made as a result of a plea...
