SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA GRANTS TWO PETITIONS FOR ALLOWANCE OF APPEAL FILED BY ATTORNEY NOEL

In 2019 alone, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania granted two petitions for allowance of appeal filed by Attorney Noel on behalf of her clients.  This is notable because, unlike the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, to which defendants have a right to appeal, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania accepts only about 30 non-capital criminal cases per year on a discretionary basis.  An attorney must demonstrate special and important reasons for the Supreme Court to exercise discretionary review over a case.  These special and important reasons may include that the question presented is one of first impression or is of such substantial public importance as to require prompt and definitive resolution by the state’s highest court.  Indeed, the Supreme Court considers itself a policy making court – addressing issues that are likely to impact citizens statewide – rather than an error correcting court.