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PA Court Overturns DUI Conviction After Judge Denies Defense Expert Witness Testimony

The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently vacated a York County woman’s convictions for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (EWOC) after ruling that the trial court improperly excluded expert testimony that could have helped her defense. This case serves as a crucial reminder that, even in DUI and drug-related cases,… view more

PA Court Overturns Marijuana Conviction After Illegal Search

The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently issued a decision that reinforces the rights of homeowners to be free from warrantless police searches. In Commonwealth v. Duke, the Court ruled that evidence obtained from an illegal search of a man’s garage must be suppressed, leading to the dismissal of his marijuana manufacturing conviction. This case highlights the… view more

PA Court Affirms Contempt Conviction for Courtroom Cellphone Use

A Pennsylvania Superior Court decision emphasizes the importance of respecting courtroom rules and judicial authority. In In re: Sheldon Arrington, 2019 PA Super 218, the court upheld a criminal contempt conviction against a long-time Allegheny County probation officer for violating the court’s cellphone policy and disobeying a judge’s direct order. This case highlights the serious… view more

PA Court Reverses DUI Conviction Over Blood Draw Consent Issue

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has once again reinforced the importance of protecting drivers’ constitutional rights during DUI investigations. In the decision of Commonwealth v. Krenzel, No. 2049 EDA 2018 (Pa. Super. May 20, 2019), the court reversed a Chester County woman’s DUI conviction after finding that police failed to properly advise her of her right… view more

Judge Denies Suppression Request in Centre County DUI

DUI Traffic Stop in Centre County: What Happened? In May 2023, police in Spring Township, PA, received a radio report about a recklessly driven silver Chevrolet truck with tinted windows. Minutes later, an officer spotted a similar vehicle and followed it. The driver pulled to the side of the road without activating a turn signal… view more

PA Man Held in Contempt After Calling Judge a Nasty Name

In Commonwealth v. Outlaw, the Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld a direct criminal contempt conviction after a defendant called the judge a profanity during a hearing. This case highlights how verbal outbursts and disruptive behavior in a Pennsylvania courtroom can quickly escalate into a criminal contempt charge under 42 Pa.C.S. § 4132(3). 🧑‍⚖️ What Happened in… view more

PA Supreme Court Clarifies “Substantial Force” in Resisting Arrest Cases

In Commonwealth v. Crosby, 30 WAP 2023, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court interpreted the Resisting Arrest statute (18 Pa.C.S. § 5104) and clarified what “substantial force” means to uphold a conviction. 🔑 Legal Question What does it mean to “employ…means justifying or requiring substantial force to overcome the resistance” under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5104 [resisting arrest]? Crosby was… view more