Pennsylvania

Judge’s plan to decide traffic cases before hearing date ‘was not evil in nature,’ disciplinary court says

A Philadelphia municipal judge who ruled on 95 traffic citations one day before the hearing date violated just one ethics rule requiring diligent and competent performance of duties, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline has ruled.

Mar 13, 2024 9:56 AM CDT

Apology sanctions for misleading court were ‘mild and fitting,’ 3rd Circuit rules in appeal by DA’s office

A federal judge did not abuse his discretion when he imposed “mild and fitting” sanctions on lawyers in the Philadelphia district attorney’s office for misleading statements made when they sought to vacate the death penalty in a double murder case.

Mar 12, 2024 3:55 PM CDT

Blank Rome tried to exact financial ruin because lawyer switched sides in airline litigation, her suit alleges

A lawyer in Dunnellon, Florida, has filed a lawsuit alleging that attorneys at Blank Rome filed an “utterly baseless” suit against her in a bid to exact financial ruin, destroy her reputation and send a warning to lawyers who switch sides in litigation involving its aviation clients.

Mar 6, 2024 12:00 PM CST

Schnader Harrison used retirement contributions to fund operations, pay equity partners, suit alleges

The defunct law firm Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis is accused in a lawsuit of commingling contributions to the firm’s 401(k) plan with the firm’s general assets for months at a time and using the money to make distributions to equity partners.

Feb 12, 2024 12:53 PM CST

Ban on youths carrying guns in emergencies violates Second Amendment, 3rd Circuit rules

Youths who are 18 to 20 years old are among the people protected by the Second Amendment, and they can’t be barred from carrying guns during a state of emergency, a federal appeals court has ruled in a 2-1 decision.

Jan 22, 2024 3:38 PM CST

Former lawyer gets prison time for trading representation for sexual acts and materials

A Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer who once worked as a prosecutor has been sentenced to four to 23 months in prison for providing legal services in exchange for sexual acts and materials.

Jan 17, 2024 8:22 AM CST

Lawyer who argued cocaine can be beneficial now says he should have retained counsel in ethics case

Updated: A now-former assistant public defender who was accused of using cocaine before his client’s hearing is in drug rehab and seeking disciplinary probation, rather than a suspension of his law license.

Jan 11, 2024 3:45 PM CST

These 3 organizations are using innovative methods to help older youths in foster care

In our final story of the year for our Children & the Law series, we are focusing on the needs of older foster youths about to transition out of care and what supports and services make a difference in their lives. Here are three ways that organizations around the country are helping with this essential work.

Dec 18, 2023 8:22 AM CST

K&L Gates reportedly cuts associates in at least 4 cities

Some associates at K&L Gates are reportedly out of a job, despite a continued increase in revenue at the law firm.

Dec 11, 2023 12:31 PM CST

‘Nuclear verdicts’ and ‘litigation tourism’ are partly why these state courts are top ‘judicial hellholes,’ report says

Courts in Georgia and Pennsylvania are named as top "judicial hellholes" for their friendliness to tort plaintiffs in a report by the American Tort Reform Foundation.

Dec 8, 2023 2:13 PM CST

Private criminal defense lawyers failed to show up for their cases more often than defendants, Philly study finds

Some lawyers are less reliable than defendants when it comes to showing up in court, according to a study of criminal cases in Philadelphia courts during a 10-year span.

Dec 6, 2023 4:12 PM CST

Public defender who defended cocaine use as sometimes beneficial should be suspended, disciplinary counsel says

A lawyer who displayed a “stunning void of evidence regarding any genuine pursuit of sobriety” should be suspended for using cocaine before his client’s hearing and defending it as sometimes helpful, according to a brief filed by the Pennsylvania Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

Dec 5, 2023 3:26 PM CST

Judge’s plan to decide traffic cases before hearing date ‘was not evil in nature,’ disciplinary court says

Apology sanctions for misleading court were ‘mild and fitting,’ 3rd Circuit rules in appeal by DA’s office

Blank Rome tried to exact financial ruin because lawyer switched sides in airline litigation, her suit alleges

Schnader Harrison used retirement contributions to fund operations, pay equity partners, suit alleges

Ban on youths carrying guns in emergencies violates Second Amendment, 3rd Circuit rules

Former lawyer gets prison time for trading representation for sexual acts and materials

Lawyer who argued cocaine can be beneficial now says he should have retained counsel in ethics case

These 3 organizations are using innovative methods to help older youths in foster care

K&L Gates reportedly cuts associates in at least 4 cities

‘Nuclear verdicts’ and ‘litigation tourism’ are partly why these state courts are top ‘judicial hellholes,’ report says

Private criminal defense lawyers failed to show up for their cases more often than defendants, Philly study finds

Public defender who defended cocaine use as sometimes beneficial should be suspended, disciplinary counsel says

Monsanto cites judge’s alleged ‘off-the-record’ instruction in bid to overturn $175M Roundup verdict

Lawyer sanctioned for being ‘rude, demeaning and obnoxious’ in depositions

Did Polsinelli violate $14M flat-fee deal to provide ‘legal counsel’? 3rd Circuit rejects claim

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