Because marijuana use is legal in PA for certain individuals under the Medical Marijuana Act (MMA), the smell of it, per se (in of itself), is not sufficient to establish probable cause to conduct a warrantless search. Commonwealth v. Barr, No. 28 MAP 2021, Pa. (Dec. 29, 2021) Brief History Leading Up to This Ruling […]

PA House Bill 773 (2021-2022), also known as Deana’s Law,” may result in new DUI laws in Pennsylvania if approved. Please understand that these are only proposed laws – they are not active at this time. Increased Punishment for Certain Multiple Offenders GENERAL INFORMATION Pennsylvania’s DUI laws are governed by 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. […]

Attorney David J. Shrager gets the privilege of throwing a strike during tonight’s Pirates game at PNC park.

Attorney David Shrager explains why some case proceedings were postponed during the pandemic, and how courts are now getting around to the backlog. In the wake of the pandemic, many criminal courts, including the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, are returning to in-person trials and are facing a buildup of cases from the last […]

Allegheny County will resume process of jury selection and jury process at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.  As the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported, the new jury selection process will now take place in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. While other counties have already resumed jury trials, Allegheny County has been put on hold […]

June 2020 DUI law continues to change. Read our latest Lawyers Journal article and learn how a new Superior Court decision can decrease the penalties for those accused of DUI in PA and how these may create changes in the different ARD Programs in each county. Thank you to our team Erin Suzanne, Frankie Exler, Dana Williams, Cory Ricci, Jennifer […]

COVID-19 Update from Attorney David Shrager Shrager Defense Attorneys are open and able to assist clients. We are working remotely and are available 24/7 for consultations via phone, FaceTime and other remote means. We are still handling all court appearances as directed by the Supreme Court. Governor Wolf announced the discontinuance of physical operations of […]

Possible release of some Allegheny County Jail inmates under coronavirus judicial emergency Under sweeping emergency powers granted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Allegheny County’s president judge suspended most criminal court events and all civil trials. Updated: 6:51 PM EDT Mar 17, 2020 Bob Mayo, Reporter Watch Video PITTSBURGH — Like every other aspect of people’s […]

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Expands Expands Fourth Amendment Protections for Firearm Owners By Attorney David Shrager and Attorney Lyle Dresbold Published in the Lawyers Journal of The Journal of the Allegheny County Bar Association On May 31 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in Commonwealth v. Hicks that a person cannot be subjected to a stop and […]

Men part of largest fentanyl bust in state history made along Pa. turnpike in court From WPXI Channel 11 News Pittsburgh Updated: Jul 18, 2019 – 5:53 PM Watch the video about this case below:   Feds taking over prosecution of NYC men arrested in fentanyl bust on Pa. turnpike From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review RENATTA […]