Shawn Dorward
Top rated DUI-DWI attorney in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Practice Areas:
Criminal defense,
Dui-dwi,
Assault & battery,
Drug & alcohol violations,
Motor vehicle defects,
Sex offenses
Education Qualification:
Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Practice Areas:
Criminal defense,
Dui-dwi,
Assault & battery,
Drug & alcohol violations,
Motor vehicle defects,
Sex offenses
4400 Deer Path Rd, Suite 102Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17110
First Admitted: 2008, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.thedorwardlawfirm.com/our-team/shawn-dorward/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA), Member
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Pennsylvania, 2008
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2012
- Admitted to the United States Third Cuirt - Middle District, 2009
- Admitted to the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, 2009
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Client charged with several felony offenses concerning an assault related incident that happened while he was attending college. We were able to establish that he was not present for the altercation and at the client's preliminary hearing all of his charges were dismissed. , 2023
- Client charged with a 3rd offense DUI. Had two prior DUI's approximately nine years prior so just within the 10 year look back period. We filed a motion to suppress arguing that the trooper did not have sufficient evidence to make a traffic stop. The trial court agreed and the Commonwealth withdrew the charges. Saved client a potential state prison sentence. , 2023
- Client was charged with felony drug delivery offenses for an incident where narcotics were found in the trunk of his car. Client was with a friend at a hotel who was wanted on a felony warrant. Based on intel the police had received they set up surveillance at the hotel and ultimately gained entry into the hotel room where our client was staying. After searching the room and everyone in it, they did not find anything so they released our client. Our client walked away from the hotel. After he left the scene police accessed our clients vehicle and found drugs that were believed to belong to the person they had the felony warrant for and our clients. At court, we filed a motion to suppress evidence arguing that in order to gain entry into our clients car the police needed a search warrant. The Court and eventually the District Attorney’s Office agreed. All charges were dismissed. , 2021
- Client was charged with Driving Under Suspension - DUI related for what the officer claimed was his third violation pursuant to Section 1543(b)(1)(iii). This section of the motor vehicle code concerns an individual who has had two prior violations under the same subsection. At the preliminary hearing we were able to argue that our client's prior driving under suspension offenses were under a separate subsection of the motor vehicle code and his charge was dismissed. Client was facing a sentence of up to a $2,500 fine and imprisonment for not less than six months. , 2022
- Homicide by Vehicle While DUI case that the Commonwealth was granted permission to appeal to the PA Supreme Court was recently decided in our favor. The PA Supreme Court reaffirmed the PA Superior Court's decision that the police involved with this investigation needed a warrant and that an exception to the warrant requirement did not apply. Although the PA Superior Court also held that Section 3755 of the vehicle code was unconstitutional, the PA Supreme Court noted that it was improper for the Superior Court to make this determination and vacated that portion of the Superior Court's ruling. , 2022
- In 1999, client was charged with sexual offenses as a juvenile and subsequently certified as an adult. He plead guilty to some of the charges and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. In 2022 our client was charged with a felony for not property registering as a sex offender. We got involved and were able to have these charges dismissed based on two recent PA Superior Court decisions that found sex offender registration to be unconstitutional as it relates to juvenile offenders even when they are charged as adults. After these charges were dismissed we then filed a motion with the trial court to have him removed from sex offender registration based on the same argument. The DA conceded this issue and the trial court granted our request. , 2022
- In 2002, client was charged with sexual offenses as a juvenile and subsequently certified as an adult. He plead no contest to some of the charges and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. We got involved in 2022 and filed a motion to have him removed from sex offender registration due to recent PA Superior Court decisions that found sex offender registration to be unconstitutional as it relates to juvenile offenders even when they are charged as adults. Trial court granted our request and removed him from sex offender registration. , 2022
- Client faced a 2nd offense DUI. Stopped for crossing lane lines, but video did not show that it was anything more than momentary and minor deviation from his lane of travel. Filed suppression arguing that the officer did not have either reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop our clients truck and the trial court granted it. , 2021
- Client convicted of Homicide by Vehicle While DUI and other related offenses. Successfully appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, arguing among other issues that the statute that allowed for a warrantless blood draw was unconstitutional and that the Commonwealth did not establish the necessary exigent circumstances to allow for a warrantless blood draw. The Superior Court entered an order vacating clients conviction and remanded the matter to the trial court. The Commonwealth filed a Petition for Allowance of Appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which was granted. This case is currently before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for further review. , 2020
Pro bono/Community Service:
- National College for DUI Defense, Member
Educational Background:
- Bachelor of Science from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Sport Management major, 2004
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Presented on the topic of Drug Recognition Evaluations - The DRE Program. The main faculty members were Dr. Jimmie Valentine and Dr. Carrie Valentine. Attorney Tim Barrouk also presented at this CLE, 2018, Faculty, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID): Uncuffing the Commonwealth's Impaired Driving Case, Criminal Defense/ DUI Attorneys
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