For the Defense - Vol. 7, Issue 4 - 5

Education Committee
The Motor Vehicle Law Summit jumpstarted our 2022
Education Calendar with outstanding speakers willing to share
their thought leadership. It was quickly followed by a tremendous
Annual Conference at the Harrisburg Hilton on April 28 and 29.
After two years of the COVID pandemic, the Conference drew
unexpectedly large numbers. Many of the sessions are eagerly
anticipated as they provide critical updates on rules of evidence,
trial and sentencing practices, and search and seizure. On Friday,
October 14, 2022, at the Hershey Hotel, we held the sold-out
Litigating Sex
Crimes Seminar with nationally recognized
speakers. Finally, on December 9, 2022, the Capital Case Seminar
will be hosted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at King of Prussia, PA.
The Capital Case Seminar provides comprehensive training in all
phases of trial work from voir dire to death penalty phase.
Publications Committee
The Publications Committee has once again published a
thoughtful review of criminal defense issues we confront daily.
This is our fourth issue in 2022. I strongly encourage our members
to volunteer to write on a current topic and become published
in For The Defense. Those who might be timid about the process
should be aware that the Publications Committee supports the
writer by providing guidance, suggestions, and goals which
enable the writer to achieve a superb product. Participating in
this publication can create friendships with the skilled lawyers on
the committee and undoubtedly will create positive impressions
among the lawyers who read and appreciate the article. I assure
you that you will not regret having earned the right to place
your name as an author of a polished article in For The Defense.
Rules Committee
The Rules Committee has offered comment on rules to
simplify the substitution of counsel for a criminal defendant.
The Committee is currently working on letters in support
of rule changes that would advance PACDL's mission of
ensuring fair treatment of criminal defendants throughout
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Over the past year, the
Committee has been a very strong voice for the accused. On
May 26, 2022, a letter was sent to the Pennsylvania Commission
on Sentencing regarding proposed state parole recommitment
ranges and guidelines. In a very clear and direct voice, PACDL
expressed its concerns about the proposed guidelines. On
June 7, 2022, the committee crafted a thoughtful letter to
the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Rules Committee
regarding the advice issued by a trial judge in a plea colloquy
regarding the consequences from a guilty plea. Importantly,
on June 29, 2022, PACDL spoke out to the Criminal Rules
Committee of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on behalf of
a rule relating to the detention and release process for our
most vulnerable, juveniles. And, in a September 13, 2022 letter
to the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee of the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court, PACDL supported a rule change
to make the substitution of counsel more efficient. Each of
these letters expressed an important perspective on influential
policy governing institutions and the Rules Committee's input
was purposeful and eloquent.
White Collar Practice Committee
On November 17 and 18, 2022, the PACDL White Collar
Practice Committee presented the annual White Collar Practice
Vol. 7, Issue 4 l For The Defense 5
seminar at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. The record number
of sponsors set the stage for two days of nationally recognized
speakers presenting on a diverse set of complex white-collar
substantive and practice issues. Congratulations to the White
Collar Practice Committee who labored to present another
outstanding series of speakers.
We Need Your Help
Finally, this robust productivity of PACDL is achieved only
through the hard work and dedication of our committee
members. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please join a committee and
become more involved in PACDL. By volunteering together,
we can make a greater difference. Please feel free to give our
Executive Director Beth Winters or me a call and we can talk
about the limitless opportunities present through your PACDL
membership. If you make this commitment, I guarantee you
will have a personal and professionally rewarding experience-
and even have fun!
PANTONE
2955C
CMYK
7406C
90/78/39/30
RGB
9/22/91/0
22/58/92
234/194/56
HEXIDECIMAL
#153A5B
#EAC137
Happy Holidays
to you and your
families from PACDL.
For the Defense - Vol. 7, Issue 4

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 7, Issue 4
