South Fayette charges student with wiretapping when he recorded bullies with iPad (Franklin: school districts, gated)

[DaisyDaisy]

In the case of a NJ parent who wired his autistic child when he suspected abuse by the staff, his recording led to the firing of at least two in the teaching staff. I wonder how they were able to use the audio without threat of inappropriate recording. I recall the video the dad made was difficult to watch. Dad wires up autistic son, 10, to expose 'bullying' by teaching staff - U.S. News

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by DaisyDaisy

In the case of a NJ parent who wired his autistic child when he suspected abuse by the staff, his recording led to the firing of at least two in the teaching staff. I wonder how they were able to use the audio without threat of inappropriate recording. I recall the video the dad made was difficult to watch. Dad wires up autistic son, 10, to expose 'bullying' by teaching staff - U.S. News

It's sad when NJ is more reasonable. If this doesn't get resolved, I hope the mother appeals the hell out of it.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by DaisyDaisy

In the case of a NJ parent who wired his autistic child when he suspected abuse by the staff, his recording led to the firing of at least two in the teaching staff. I wonder how they were able to use the audio without threat of inappropriate recording. I recall the video the dad made was difficult to watch. Dad wires up autistic son, 10, to expose 'bullying' by teaching staff - U.S. News

IIRC, NJ is a "one party recording state" (only one party needs to be aware that the recording is taking place), while PA is a two party state (both parties must consent).

I can understand the rationale behind two party recording systems in general, but yeesh, you'd think that prosecutorial discretion would tilt toward common sense on this one.

Originally Posted by Hopes

It's sad when NJ is more reasonable. If this doesn't get resolved, I hope the mother appeals the hell out of it.

NJ laws are more reasonable than ours in quite a few respects. The only eminently unreasonable NJ law I can think of is that you're not allowed to pump your own gas.

[Huckleberry3911948]

pineapple upside down cake we arrest the victim and assist the criminal in the prosecution

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Hopes

One thing is for sure, Pittsburgh is making some serious national news regarding bullying this week.

Sadly, this is true. It's unfair, IMO, but Pittsburgh is indeed being portrayed in an unattractive light because of the irony of these two events being so close together.

Originally Posted by Hopes

That's pathetic. The Washington Post picked it up. I'll bet it will be international before the week ends.

It was making the news even down my way (I'm down past Richmond in HR area).

[villageidiot1]

A South Fayette High School student convicted of disorderly conduct for attempting to record his bullies shouldn't have been prosecuted, legal experts said on Monday.

Legal experts question prosecuting South Fayette student for recording bullies | TribLIVE

[sealie]

Does anyone know anything about the background of the judge? Someone claimed that her mother was the judge before her, and that she got in on name recognition. I know that it is possible to be a magistrate judge without any legal background at all and I can't help wondering from her incohrent statement if that was the case here.

[Buckeye Burgher]

Pennsylvania has one of the strictest wiretapping statutes on the books.
You can basically record NO audio on someone without their permission.
Security camera systems have to be mute in order to meet requirements of the law.

No doubt this law was written by our politicians in Harrisburg to protect them
from having their conversations with Mafia bag men recorded.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by sealie

Does anyone know anything about the background of the judge? Someone claimed that her mother was the judge before her, and that she got in on name recognition. I know that it is possible to be a magistrate judge without any legal background at all and I can't help wondering from her incohrent statement if that was the case here.

You do have to take a 2 week magistrates course after you're elected in PA, so there's that

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by UKyank

You do have to take a 2 week magistrates course after you're elected in PA, so there's that

The blame rests on the communities that don't take qualifications into consideration. Candidates don't need to be lawyers to have legal experience. Police officers make good magistrates too. To elect just anyone is ridiculous. The upside is magistrate rulings aren't written in stone. The bad ones can be easily overturned by the county court.