Peters Attorney Attends Conference on Legal Immigration

Peters Township attorney Dave DiCarlo has been invited to attend a national conference to discuss the challenges in dealing with legal immigrants to our justice system.

The conference, this weekend—hosted by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association—will discuss the consequences that may result when legal immigrants appear in the criminal courtroom.

It was inspired by the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in "Padilla v. Kentucky," which held that defense lawyers must advise defendants of the deportation risks of pleading guilty to a crime, as stated in a release.

“The topic is especially important for the courts of southwestern Pennsylvania,” DiCarlo said in a statement. “Marcellus industries are bringing new residents to Washington County, and we will see more legal immigrants in the criminal courtroom. Because of their status, they face many unexpected consequences.”

DiCarlo, a criminal defense attorney, lost to district attorney Gene Vittone in the 2011 election—one of the closest races in Washington County in decades.

DiCarlo said that other conference invitees are all rising bar leaders from across the U.S.

“I’m flattered to be invited to this program and I look forward to discussing how these issues should be addressed in the courts throughout southwestern Pennsylvania,” he said.