For the Defense - Vol. 8, Issue 1 - 4

OPENING
STATEMENT
Patrick A. Casey, PACDL President
elcome to the first issue of For The Defense for 2023!
The year has begun at a fast pace for PACDL, and we
have hit the ground running. We look forward to an
ambitious schedule of seminars and committee work.
To serve our members effectively, our all-volunteer committee
and board members have consistently placed a priority on
keeping you promptly informed of changes in the law-
substantive, procedural, and rules-which impact the life of
a criminal defense practitioner. There are three platforms
delivering this information to you: PACDL listserv, seminars, and
For The Defense. We receive feedback regularly that all three
are critically important to our membership.
The PACDL listserv is a remarkable resource as it taps into
the knowledge bank and skilled experience of our greatest
resource-our membership. Every day, practitioners are positing
difficult and complex questions of state and federal issues faced
by PACDL lawyers throughout the Commonwealth. Invariably,
exceedingly-experienced practitioners, law professors, and
public defenders provide answers to questions which often
would require hours of research to disentangle. Typically,
members provide answers within hours. Also, the listserv is a
tremendous platform for referrals. A simple listserv question
will help identify appropriate counsel for clients facing subject
matter and geographically diverse issues.
Our seminars purposefully concentrate on contemporary
criminal defense issues in Pennsylvania state and federal trial
and appellate courts. The subject matters of each seminar hones
in on real life in a Pennsylvania courtroom. On February 24, 2023,
the annual DUI seminar was hosted in Hershey. Hands down, the
annual PACDL DUI seminar is the most comprehensive review
of Pennsylvania law pertaining to DUI offenses offered by any
organization anywhere in the state. Likewise, the Joint Annual
two-day conference in Harrisburg on April 27 and 28, 2023 is a
Who's Who of speakers on wide ranging topics providing training
on the entire waterfront of the issues a criminal practitioner
confronts. The two-day White Collar seminar in November and
Capital Defense seminar in December complete the cycle of
meeting the needs of every possible criminal practice.
4 For The Defense l Vol. 8, Issue 1
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The third platform for our membership regarding the
continually changing law is For The Defense. This issue
demonstrates the sophistication and finesse of the study of state
and federal criminal law issues. Nowhere else can one find a
publication so tailored to the needs of a Pennsylvania criminal
practitioner.
Participation in one of our committees also provides a perfect
opportunity to build true friendships. Consider joining one
of the following committees: Advocacy, Amicus, Education,
Platform, Publications,
Rules, or White Collar
Practice.
It
is anticipated that 2023 will be a very active year for PACDL.
Authoring one article, participating in one CLE presentation, or
assisting as one member of a committee during the year can be
tremendously positive personal and professional experience for
you, the participant; and it can make a big difference to PACDL.
Our organization is built on friendship, camaraderie, and
esprit de corps. It is a natural process in common effort which
creates alliances and allies of people who we otherwise would
never get a chance to meet. PACDL added 37 new members
from December to January. Many who enjoy our seminars need
only a nudge. A simple kind overture to join can prompt a
person to take the step. " You can't stay in your corner of the
Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to
them sometimes. " Winnie-the-Pooh
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For the Defense - Vol. 8, Issue 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 8, Issue 1
