Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

homicide by vehicle while dui

The county where the crash occured filed a list of 12 charges against the driver with the charge in the above subject line being the most serious. County prosecutor vs. defense attorney in this case. A recently elected judge who was listed in his former law practice as specializing in (Personal Injury-Defense) will be presiding over the trial. I realize the judge is supposed to strictly follow the law but I'm also aware of certain tendencies. In your opinion, will the judge lean toward the defense (being a former P.I.-Defense attorney himself) or toward the prosecution since the parents lost their only child in this crash or doesn't that matter at all? Thank you in advance for any input on this matter.


Asked on 6/13/07, 12:19 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: homicide by vehicle while dui

Without knowing who (the judge) you're talking about, it's hard to say. Judges don't lose all of their expertise or knowledge or biases when they get onto the bench, but they do most often try their best to put them aside and rule fairly in a case.

Obviously, there is a jury involved in this matter, and convincing them is the most important thing.

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Answered on 6/13/07, 12:36 pm
Brian Zeiger Levin & Zeiger LLP

Re: homicide by vehicle while dui

If its a jury trial, the judge is not such an important figure. If its a bench trial, you are asking the question of the ages, "how does a judge think?" No one knows that answer.

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Answered on 6/13/07, 2:37 pm


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