The Important Role of Defense Counsel
This appeal was an appeal out of Allegheny County. The issue in this case revolved around disparaging remarks made against defense counsel in a victim’s letter, which was sent to the sentencing…
Authenticating social media evidence
This appeal was a Commonwealth appeal out of Erie County. The opinion is a lengthy one, and it deals with an evidentiary issue of authentication of evidence. Specifically, the question at issue was…
Comm. v. Fitzpatrick, 2018 PA Super 55 (Mar. 14, 2018)
This appeal was an appeal out of Philadelphia. On August 14, 2015, a judgment of sentence had been entered against Fitzpatrick after a jury had convicted him of first-degree murder and third-degree…
It’s hard to get post-conviction relief.
Appeals from the denial of post-conviction relief (or PCRA petitions) consume a majority of the Superior Court’s docket. The disposition of the majority of these appeals generally are unfavorable to…