Do You Have Privacy in Your Internet Searches? Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Ruling in Commonwealth v. Kurtz
Are Google searches private in Pennsylvania? PA Supreme Court’s Ruling in Commonwealth v. Kurtz Key Takeaway: In Pennsylvania, people using standard search engines, such as Google or ChatGPT, without additional privacy measures, should assume their internet searches are not private and could be obtained by law enforcement. Do Internet Users Have a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy in Pennsylvania? The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently addressed whether people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their internet searches. In Commonwealth v. Kurtz, the Court ruled that individuals using standard search [...]
PA Superior Court clarifies reasonable suspicion and its impact on drug investigations
PA Superior Court decisions clarify reasonable suspicion and its impact on drug investigations Key Takeaway: Two recent Pennsylvania Superior Court decisions, Commonwealth v. Phinn and Commonwealth v. Coles, clarify when police officers have reasonable suspicion to investigate drug use or possession in Pennsylvania. These cases provide critical guidance on how marijuana odor, smoking behavior, and traffic stop observations can lawfully justify investigative detentions under Pennsylvania and federal law. Commonwealth v. Phinn: How the Medical Marijuana Act Affects Police Stops in Pennsylvania Key Takeaway: The Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) [...]
Suppression alert: Commonwealth v. Anthony Lewis (2025)
SUPPRESSION ALERT: Commonwealth v. Anthony Lewis (2025) Key Takeaway: The PA Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed that the Commonwealth must meet the burden of proving an area is “high crime” when relying on this designation to support an investigatory detention, or “Terry stop”. The ruling stated that the Suppression Court has discretion to determine whether the evidence supports this designation, rather than adopting a strict test. Case details: Commonwealth v. Anthony Lewis, No. 37 EAP 2024 (2025) On July 31, 2021, two police officers on routine patrol in Philadelphia [...]
Case alert: Commonwealth v. Seth Jason Reich (2025)
CASE ALERT: Commonwealth v. Seth Jason Reich (2025) Key Takeaway: Specific and discrete appellate arguments must be raised, developed, and preserved at the trial court. In this Pennsylvania Superior Court decision, the Court upheld the conviction of former high school drama teacher Seth Jason Reich. He was found guilty of multiple charges—including sexual assault, indecent assault, and furnishing alcohol to a minor—stemming from a 2019 incident involving a former student, M.R., and her friend, E.A. The gist of the case was that the Defendant, M.R., and E.A. met at [...]
CASE ALERT: Commonwealth v. Thomas, 2025 PA. Super 94 – Rape Shield Law
In a recent ruling from the Pennsylvania Superior Court, criminal defense lawyers now have clearer guidance around what evidence is admissible, or not, regarding a victim’s previous sexual activity. Case Summary: Commonwealth v. Thomas, 2025 PA. Super 94 The defendant, Jeffrey Lynn Thomas, was convicted of criminal offenses following allegations that he forced his way into a woman’s house and sexually assaulted her by digitally penetrating her vaginally and anally. The defense theory at trial was that the encounter was consensual and, in keeping with that theory, the defense filed [...]
