• Talking Criminal Law at the Beach
    Atlantic City, NJ -- June 14, 2019
    The Water Club at the Borgata Hotel Casino
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  • Talking Criminal Law at the Beach
    Friday, June 14, 2019 
    Full Day CLE in Atlantic City
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  • Defending Individual Rights and Demanding Justice in the Courts

    PACDL Amicus Committee

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Latest News​

PACDL Files Comments re: Proposed Criminal Proc. Rule 231 (Grand Jury Secrecy)


On May 10, PACDL filed comments to proposed rule changes being considered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Criminal Rules Committee.  Specifically, the proposal would make changes to Rule 231. PACDL argued that the proposed language falls short because it fails to resolve ambiguous language that suggests it is appropriate to swear witnesses to secrecy.  Additionally, PACDL objected to routinely requring counsel to be sworn to secrecy and fetters counsel's ability to represent witness.  Finallly, PACDL noted that the proposed rule comment fails to address several other gaps. To read PACDL's comments, click here.  Thank you to Justin Danilewitz at Saul Ewing for preparing the comment letter.   

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.