An aerial shot of a city building in Danville, PA

Preventing Waiver on Appeal

As you prepare your appeal in the Superior Court or Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania, how do you avoid waiver or forfeiture? Here are three common mistakes that people make that cause waiver and forfeiture. First: Be sure to include citations…
The Philadelphia skyline at sunset

Defending an Appeal to the Superior Court

Congratulations! You won your case before the Court of Common Pleas, and you’re relieved that your long lawsuit has come to an end. But then you get the bad news: the other side has appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Can your hard-won…
The inside of a courtroom

Can my sentencing be deferred while my case is on appeal?

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If you’ve lost a criminal case at trial and you’re looking to bring an appeal, will the court consider deferring your sentence until the appeal is decided? Under Pennsylvania law, there are several factors that a court will consider in making…
A courthouse in Pottsville, Schuylkill County

When should I move to make an unpublished opinion published?

If you’ve brought a successful appeal in the Superior Court or the Commonwealth Court, and the decision is released as unpublished, should you move to make it published? Does it matter for your case whether this case is going to be a precedent…
An American flag flying on a courthouse

What is a Concurring or Dissenting Opinion?

It’s relatively frequent in the news that you hear about a “concurrence” or “dissent.” What does it mean when a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States or a Judge of another Court issues a concurring or dissenting opinion?…
Someone signing a legal brief

What is an amicus brief?

An amicus brief is a legal document filed with a court by an organization or group that is not a formal party to an action, requesting a particular outcome. An outside group can petition the court for permission to be recognized as an amicus…