Criminal Lawyer Update: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Minimum Sentence in Sex Case

by | Jun 22, 2016 | Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Mandatory-Minimum Sentences, Pennsylvania Constitution, Sex Crimes, Uncategorized

On June 20, 2016, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in Pennsylvania v. Wolfe, with the opinion authored by Chief Justice Saylor, struck down the mandatory minimum sentencing provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718, which mandated for mandatory minimums for certain offenses...

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Strikes Down Act 152 of 2004 as Violative of the Single-Subject Rule of Art. III, Sec. 3 of the Pennsylvania Constitution

by | Jan 2, 2014 | Criminal Lawyer, Pennsylvania Constitution, single-subject rule, Uncategorized

On December 16, 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down Act 152 of 2004 (“Act 152”), in its entirety, as violating the single-subject rule of Article III, Section 3 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.  Act 152 made various changes to the...

Governor Rendell Attempts a Parole Overhaul

by | Jan 7, 2009 | Criminal Court, Criminal Lawyer, Governor, Judges, Legislation, Pennsylvania Constitution, Prisoners' Rights, Prisons, Sentencing, Uncategorized, Violent Crime

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is attempting to put a plan into motion that would take away violent offenders’ ability to be paroled. Rather than sentencing pursuant to Pennsylvania’s indeterminate sentencing scheme in criminal court (that is, a maximum...