The Boy Scouts of America’s Philadelphia chapter has sued the City of Philadelphia in federal court to block the city’s May 31 deadline for the scouts to open membership to gays and atheists, or vacate their historic 1928 headquarters off Logan Square.The civil rights lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Center City, contends that…
Category Archives: Philadelphia
Barnes Foundation Headed For More Litigation
Seems like the saga of the Barnes Foundation, a venerable institution in the art world, isn;t over quite yet. Three years ago a Pennsylvania state coirt judge gave the institution, which has been on financial life support, permission to move from its location in the Philadelphia suburbs to new, as yet to be constructed quarters,…
Former Villanova Star Howard Porter Dies After Beating
While not strictly “criminal law” related,” I post this because it is a significant Philadelphia story. For those who are Villanova graduates, as I am (Law, ’92), we are grieving this tragic, tragic death. below the fold is today’s Philadelphia Inquirer story.
Pier 34 Defendants Avoid Retrial, Take Pleas
The Inquirer reported on the Philly.com website this morning that the owner and the operator of Pier 34, the collapse of which led to the drowning deaths of 3 youg women 7 years ago, have entered pleas of no contest and guilty, respectively, thus avoiding a re-trial on the same charges on which a Philadelphia…
Key Hearing for Mumia Approaches. So Does Death
The Inquirer reported in yesterday’s paper on a critical argument that will be held in the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals this Thursday in the long running case of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal (and truthfully, have there been more than a handful of hot Broadway shows that have run longer than this…
Prosecution Will Not Seek Death Penalty in the Rafael Robb Case
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor, who evidently intends to prosecute the case himself, announced on Thursday that the Commonwealth will not seek the death penalty in the case of Penn professor Rafael Robb, who is accused of brutally bludgeoning his wife to death. Interesting decision. Castor said that its not a death penalty case…
Feds Move to Disqualify Fumo Lawyers
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this week that federal prosecutors have filed a motion asking US District Court Judge William Yohn to disqualify Vince Fumo’s defense lawyers. Fumo is represented by the legendary Dick Sprague and other lawyers from his firm, Sprague & Sprague. I’ve not yet had an opportunity to read the motion papers,…
Looks Like It’s Not Just the Catholics
Seems that a Church of Christ youth minister has gotten himself into a bit of a bind for mixing business with pleasure, so to speak. Stupidity is indeed ecumenical.
Arthur Branch Criticizes Libby Prosecution
Former Senator Fred Thompson, who plays New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s “Law & Order” has criticized the Scooter Libby prosecution as “a travesty of justice.” I have to agree with Senator Thompson. And not just because I love Arthur Branch.
D.A. Asks State AG to Take Over Reid Investigation
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor has asked the State Attorney General’s office to take over the criminal investigations into Eagles Coach Andy Reid’s sons, citing conflicts of interest. Apparently Castor, who had previously recused himself personally, is friends with one of the lawyers for the Reid boys, and is also considering joining the law…