Criminal Rules Advocacy

Help Shape Criminal Procedure in Pennsylvania

Proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s criminal procedural rules directly impact your clients, your practice, and the justice system as a whole. As a criminal defense lawyer—public defender, conflict counsel, or private practitioner—your voice is critical.

Why It Matters

Protect Fairness

Procedural rules govern everything from pretrial motions to sentencing. Your input helps ensure they protect due process and balance the scales of justice.

Use Your Expertise

No one understands the real-world impact of these rules better than you. Your feedback brings practical insight the courts and policymakers need.

Make a Difference

PACDL’s Rules Committee reviews proposed rules and files comments on behalf of our members. When you participate, you help shape fairer, smarter procedures statewide.

How You Can Get Involved

• Review Proposed Rules: Read the rule changes and think through their impact.

• Join the Rules Committee: Help draft comments that reflect the defense perspective.

• Collaborate: Talk it over with fellow practitioners—your shared experience matters.

• Submit Comments: We’ll make sure your input reaches the Supreme Court’s Rules Committees.

Together, We Can Shape Justice!

PACDL monitors rule proposals published by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Rules Committees. At PACDL, we believe in the power of collective action to create a more just and equitable criminal justice system. Your involvement in reviewing and commenting on proposed criminal procedural rules is a crucial step toward achieving this goal.Your work in the courtroom is powerful—so is your voice in shaping the rules. Join us.