At Kenny, Burns & McGill, we know that the criminal justice system is a confusing and scary place. We understand that your case may be sensitive or difficult. We know that your or your family’s livelihood might be at stake. We are ready to help.
Call us 24/7 for a free consultation: (215) 423-5500
The moment you decide to work with our firm, we will fight hard to protect your rights, avoid wrongful or extreme sentences, and give you and your family peace of mind. We will address your concerns, educate you about your legal rights and options, and answer your questions so that you can make informed decisions throughout the entire process.
Below of some of the types of cases we handle:
- Murder and Attempted Murder
Sex Crimes
Federal Offenses
Probation/Parole Violations
Drug Possession
Drug Dealing / PWID
Drug Trafficking
Warrants
Weapons Offenses
Violent Crimes
Domestic Violence
Grand Jury Investigations
DUI
RICO
White Collar Crimes
Criminal Appeals
PCRA Petitions
Whether you are facing minor criminal charges in a Magisterial District Court or the Philadelphia Municipal Court, or more serious charges in the Court of Common Pleas, our attorneys will advocate and fight for you to the end. Nothing is more important to us than your rights and your freedom.
Our firm provides high-quality legal representation in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Lancaster counties and throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We have secured many positive outcomes for clients facing charges including underage drinking, violation of parole (VOP), theft, possession with intent to distribute (PWID) and other drug charges, assault and homicide, and driving under the influence (DUI), to name just a few.
We also represent individuals in federal district court, including federal criminal trials as well as appeals to the Superior Court and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
If you need help now, contact us now to set up a free consultation. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help.
Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Process
In Pennsylvania, criminal laws are defined by the Pennsylvania General Assembly as laws which are meant to “forbid and prevent … substantial harm to individual or public interest.”
At the same time, criminal laws are meant to “safeguard offenders against excessive, disproportionate or arbitrary punishment.” That is to say, people who are accused of crimes should not face penalties that outweigh the crime itself.
At Kenny, Burns & McGill, our criminal defense attorneys help the wrongfully-accused to fight the charges which have been levied against them so that they are not punished for crimes they did not commit. For clients who may admit to breaking the law or are found by a judge or jury to have committed a crime, we fight to make sure that that the sentence ordered by a judge is fair and does not disproportionately threaten our client’s liberty or livelihood.
Criminal cases in Pennsylvania usually start in a Magisterial District Court (except in Philadelphia, where charges start in the Municipal Court). This is where criminal cases are brought in front of a judge for the first time. Criminal defense attorneys may fight to have certain charges dismissed at this stage, during a Preliminary Hearing. At that hearing, testimony is taken from witnesses for the Magisterial District Judge (or Municipal Court Judge) to decide what charges, if any, will proceed to the county-level Court of Common Pleas for trial.
Some criminal cases, such as traffic offenses and other minor infractions, are only heard at the Magisterial District Court level (or the Municipal Court level in Philadelphia) and do not proceed to the Court of Common Pleas unless they are appealed by the defendant or the District Attorney.
As one would imagine, different crimes carry different sentences. The Pennsylvania General Assembly lays out maximum sentences for each level of offense in the table below. At Kenny, Burns & McGill, we are successful in working with District Attorneys and Judges to avoid the maximum sentences for many of our clients, even if they have been convicted of serious offenses.
- Murder of the first degree
Mandatory death or life imprisonment - Murder of the second degree
Mandatory life imprisonment - Felony of the first degree
20 years — $25,000 - Felony of the second degree
10 years — $25,000 - Felony of the third degree
7 years — $15,000 - Misdemeanor of the first degree
5 years — $10,000 - Misdemeanor of the second degree
2 years — $5,000 - Misdemeanor of the third degree
1 year — $2,000 - Summary offense
90 days — $300
At Kenny, Burns & McGill, our criminal defense lawyers work hard to protect the rights of our clients, avoid wrongful and extreme sentences, and provide peace of mind. We address our criminal defense clients’ questions and concerns so that they can make informed decisions throughout the entire legal process.
The criminal defense attorneys at Kenny, Burns & McGill work on cases throughout Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, as well as many others. Our criminal defense attorneys also work on cases throughout New Jersey, in local Municipal Courts as well as in New Jersey Superior Courts and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, up to and including the United States Supreme Court.
