In January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld its...

In January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld its decision to strike a state law that would curtail appeals by death-row inmates. In the opinion handed down, Justice Ronald Castille said the Capital Unitary Review Act violated the judiciary's authority and conflicted with existing rules established by the court. State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the decision unfortunate and said the court was "overextending its authority."