Press Statement Archive
Press statements prior to 2025 issued by the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers are listed below. Members of the press corp are directed to contact Beth Winters, Executive Director of PACDL at pacdl@pacdl.org or 717.234.7403 regarding comments, background requests or other information.
September 19, 2024 – Brian McMonagle Accepts Role as President of Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) is pleased to announce that Brian McMonagle has accepted the position of PACDL President. McMonagle brings with him decades of legal experience and has successfully handled some of the most celebrated criminal cases in Pennsylvania’s history, along with a long-standing commitment to PACDL’s mission of promoting excellence in criminal defense. [Read the full statement.]
March 15, 2024 - Condemnation of Dauphin County Prison Officials for Inhumane Treatment of Inmates
PennLive recently reported the cutting of power for over two weeks to certain populations in the basement of the Dauphin County prison and removing protected legal work. Patrick A. Casey, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL), made the following statement. “PACDL vehemently condemns the appalling actions of Dauphin County Prison officials for their decision to turn off the lights in two segregation units, leaving inmates in the dark for a staggering 14 hours per day for more than two weeks. It is deeply distressing and utterly unacceptable that prison officials would subject individuals in their care to such inhumane conditions. This egregious violation of basic human rights and decency cannot be overlooked or excused." [Read the full statement.]
March 23, 2023 - PACDL Statement on Governor Shapiro’s Effort to Provide Indigent Defense Funding
February 16, 2023 - PACDL Statement on Governor Shapiro’s Call to Repeal the Death Penalty
The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) today released the following statement from Patrick A. Casey, PACDL President in response to Governor Shapiro’s announcement that he will refuse to sign execution warrants and seeks the repeal of the death penalty. “PACDL has long opposed the penalty of death as a criminal sanction. Every significant study of Pennsylvania’s capital punishment system has concluded that it is severely flawed, unreliable, arbitrarily administered, and fails to halt the execution of innocent persons. Pennsylvania’s death penalty impedes equal justice under law, both actual and apparent, in criminal proceedings." [Read the full statement.]
June 29, 2022 - Statement Regarding Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization issued on Friday, June 24, 2022, will have a significant impact on the justice system nationwide. The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) takes no position on abortion. In the weeks, months, and years ahead, PACDL will provide leadership, expertise, and training in evolving areas of law by expanding on its April forum entitled “How the New Criminalization of Abortion Will Impact Your Practice” held two months before the Dobbs decision. [Read the full statement.]
October 10, 2020 - Statement from PACDL President Peter E. Kratsa Regarding Pennsylvania House Resolution Calling for Wecht Impeachment
Peter E. Kratsa, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) issued the following statement. “As United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Kavanaugh recently stated: ‘…[A]n independent judiciary is the crown jewel of our constitutional republic.’ Chief Justice Roberts similarly stated that ‘an independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.’ PACDL could not agree more. [Read the full statement.]
March 20, 2020 - Statement Supporting the Petition For a Unified Directive to Safeguard Prisoners and Corrections Staff [Press statement]
March 11, 2020 - Statement from PACDL President Peter E. Kratsa Further Condemning the Firings of Montgomery County Public Defenders [Press Statement]
February 11, 2020 - Statement from PACDL President Peter E. Kratsa Regarding Allegations of Racially Derogatory Remarks [Press Statement]
June 25, 2018 - Capital Punishment in Pennsylvania Report Press Statement
August 16, 2018 - Grand Jury Redaction Comments by PA Attorney General Press Statement
December 24, 2018 - Asylum Seekers, Press Statement
December 21, 2015 - Death Penalty Moratorium [Read press statement]