Author: Joel Ready
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Com v. Cullen-Doyle: Elementary, dear Watson—First Time Offenders are Eligible for RRRI
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court holds in Com v. Cullen-Doyle that the Recidivism Risk Reduction Inventive Act’s (RRRI) eligibility requirements were not meant to exclude a first-time violent offender pleading guilty…
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Com v. Shabezz: Automatic standing in Pennsylvania to challenge unconstitutional searches
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Saleem Shabezz was observed by a policeman in a McDonald’s Parking Lot—a “hot zone,” known for drug deals by the police in Philadelphia (always a great place to find hot ‘zones).…
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PSP v. Grove: Motor Vehicle Recordings are not exempt from disclosure under Right to Know law
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In Pennsylvania State Police v. Grove, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rules that Motor Vehicle Recordings are not exempt from the disclosure requirements of the Right to Know Act, and…
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ODC v. Quigley: Misuse of IOLTA funds warrants disbarment
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Quigley was an attorney with a “generally good reputation as a good trial attorney.” However, Mr. Quigley began to have money problems. Other difficulties arose, including when an ad in…
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Com v. Johnson: A Death Penalty Appeal
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In Commonwealth v. Johnson, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a murder conviction and the jury’s imposition of the death penalty. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is charged with reviewing…
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Villani v. Seibert: Dragonetti Statute Does Not Violate Separation of Powers; But We’re Leaving the Door Open
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Civil lawyers know—and may even fear—the threat of a Dragonetti action. The draconian name accurately depicts one of the few times in law that a lawyer can subsequently be…
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Pittman v. Pa. Bd. of Probation and Parole: Board Abused its Discretion by Failing to Use Discretion
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The Parole Violation statute requires the Board of Probation and Parole to use its discretion when considering whether to credit “time at liberty on parole” to a convicted parole violator’s…
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Com v. Yandamuri: Direct Capital Appeal
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Com v. Yandamuri was a direct capital appeal case pursuant to the Court’s responsibility to directly review all death penalty cases. In a botched baby-kidnapping-for-ransom attempt, Raghunandan Yandamuri, a non-citizen,…
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City of Allentown v. Int’l Ass’n of Fire Fighters Local 302: Minimum staffing is not managerial prerogative
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In order to facilitate efficient and final labor agreements for public entities, Pennsylvania’s Act 111 provides for binding arbitration where an impasse in negotiations is reached. Such arbitration award can…
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In re Adoption of LBM and ADM: A Child and His Counsel
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A child’s legal interests are not the same as his best interests, and in proceedings for the Termination of Parental Rights, the child has a statutory right to counsel for…