• 2019 Joint Annual Conference

    April 25 and 26, 2019

    Brochure is Available Here
    Register Today!

  • Talking Criminal Law at the Beach
    Friday, June 14, 2019 
    Full Day CLE in Atlantic City
    Register Today!

  • Calling All Authors!

    Next Deadline for PACDL's For The Defense is July 15

    Contact Us to Learn More.  

  • 2019 PACDL Membership Meeting
    April 25, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.
    Mark Your Calendar!

  • Defending Individual Rights and Demanding Justice in the Courts

    PACDL Amicus Committee

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Latest News​

PACDL Files Amicus Brief in Commonwealth v. Parrish


On March 11, PACDL filed an amicus brief arguing that Rule 1925(b) that requires a finding of waiver where a timely, but flawed, 1925(b) statement is filed, is harsh and unnecessary for full appellate review of otherwise preserved issues. The brief also argued that appellate counsel's filing of a "vague rule 1925(b) statement that fails to specify any particular claim" constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel per se. Finally, the brief suggests that an appellant whose counsel has filed a statement that preserves no issues for appeal must receive nunc pro tunc reinstatement of all appellate rights. Thank you to Ellen Brotman, the main drafter of the brief and other members of PACDL's Amicus Committee for their input.

PACDL Opposes Marsy's Law

PACDL voiced its opposition to Senate Bill 149 and House Bill 276 (commonly known as Marsy's Law) which propose to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to establish a crime victims' bill of rights.  PACDL argued that these bills suffer from substantial defects which undermine defendants' fundamental due process and constitutional rights including the right to a presumption of innocence, the right to a fair and impartial trial, and right to confront witnesses and evidence against him/her.  PACDL's opposition letter can be found here.