Mandatory sentences for second-degree murder may no longer be constitutional in Pennsylvania, but some attorneys say the state’s highest court hasn’t given much clarity for nearly 1,100 people already serving those punishments.

Court ruling forces legislative action

Cory Fahnestock, an attorney with the McShane Group, said they’re left wondering what’s going to happen next, with no mechanism currently in place to handle those cases.

“They’re left in the air of, ‘What’s going to happen to me next?’ There’s no mechanism to handle those,” Fahnestock said.

Retroactivity remains unresolved

Cory Miller, also an attorney, said the question of retroactivity is not automatic for those already serving sentences for second-degree murder.

“The question of retroactivity is not automatic,” he said.

Proposed bill would allow parole eligibility

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Tim Briggs has a bill that would propose an opportunity for parole for second-degree murder if someone has served 25 years of their sentence.

But he acknowledges more conversations need to be had, especially about what to do with those already serving a life sentence.

“How do we not? It’s unconstitutional,” Briggs said. “How are they going to continue serving those sentences? They need an opportunity to make their case, have their culpability reviewed.”

Briggs’ Republican counterpart agreed that more time is needed to discuss the issue.

Bipartisan agreement on need for more discussion

Rep. Rob Kauffman said, “We can have a comprehensive solution that addresses the concerns of the victims, but also attempts to being compassionate, looking forward for those who really weren’t involved in these crimes.”

As the deadline approaches, lawmakers face pressure to create a sentencing structure that complies with the court ruling while balancing public safety, fairness and the interests of victims’ families.

For event professionals designing immersive experiences, the venue matters as much as the program. Increasingly, planners are looking for destinations that combine scale with innovation, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia is stepping up to meet that challenge.

Located in the heart of Center City, the Pennsylvania Convention Center offers planners the infrastructure of a large-scale convention facility with the accessibility of a walkable urban destination. Spanning one million square feet, with seven exhibit halls, 82 meeting rooms, and one of the largest ballrooms in the Northeast, it delivers the flexibility needed for complex, multilayered events. A new strategic alliance between the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau further streamlines the planning process, offering a more connected experience from sourcing through execution.

^{A new facility-wide network of 150+ striking digital screens allows organizers to incorporate vibrant, engaging, and high-impact visuals during events. Photo: Courtesy of PHLCVB}

Recent investments are reshaping how events come to life inside the Center. A new 150-screen digital network allows planners to integrate branding, wayfinding, and real-time messaging throughout the venue, creating a cohesive attendee journey from arrival to breakout sessions. Further expanding program possibilities, the Center has unveiled a new executive boardroom. Designed for leadership meetings, VIP briefings, and high-level sessions, the space enables meeting organizers to seamlessly incorporate elevated, executive experiences within larger events.

Equally important is the team behind the experience. Philadelphia’s hospitality community, from convention center staff to local partners and hospitality providers, operates as a coordinated extension of the planner’s team. This collaborative approach was on full display at the start of 2026 when Philadelphia hosted PCMA Convening Leaders, one of the industry’s most influential events. The annual meeting served as a strong example of Philadelphia’s ability to execute large-scale, high-profile meetings to the thousands of event organizers in attendance.

^{The Pennsylvania Convention Center’s Grand Hall is a dramatic, one-of-a-kind space crowned by a majestic arched ceiling. Photo: Courtesy of PHLCVB}

Beyond the venue, Philadelphia enhances the attendee experience. More than 14,000 hotel rooms are conveniently located in Center City, and the city has been named the “Most Walkable City to Visit in the U.S.” for three consecutive years. The city’s walkability factor unlocks a range of possibilities for hosting off-site events, from historic venues and cultural institutions to a dining scene gaining national recognition, supplemented with recent Michelin acknowledgement. In Philadelphia, the city itself becomes more than just a venue—it is an extension of the event.

Anchored by the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia’s connectivity translates into something more powerful: a destination where big ideas are easy to execute, experiences feel more connected, and every element, from venue to city, works together to elevate the event.

Start planning your next memorable meeting, convention, or event in Philadelphia at discoverPHL.com.

A Pennsylvania State Police corporal has pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated pornography, possessing child sexual abuse material and secretly filming women, including coworkers and a Montgomery County judge, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

Thirty-nine-year-old Stephen Kamnik pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court Wednesday to a total of 15 charges for years of abusing law enforcement databases, state-owned devices and unauthorized material for personal sexual gratification.

Kamnik, who is currently suspended without pay, used secured law enforcement and commonwealth computer systems to create AI-generated pornographic images of numerous women, according to the attorney general’s office. Prosecutors said Kamnik created some of the explicit material at a Montgomery County barracks.

The investigation, which was conducted by state police, found that Kamnik secretly filmed and photographed numerous women while on duty. Authorities said he repeatedly entered the women’s locker room at the state police barracks to take pictures of female officers.

Prosecutors said Kamnik also used the state’s Justice Network, known as JNET, to obtain hundreds of photographs of women, violating database policies. 

Investigators also found an unlawfully recorded video of a Montgomery County magisterial district judge during a court proceeding that prosecutors said Kamnik edited for lewd purposes.

Authorities also found a stolen .22-caliber gun during a search of Kamnik’s vehicle in January 2025.

Kamnik pleaded guilty to four felony counts of unlawful use of a computer, sexual abuse of children, misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy, tampering with evidence and other related offenses.

A Montgomery County judge is scheduled to sentence him July 8.

“These crimes stain the great work being done by law enforcement every day in communities across the Commonwealth,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement.

A lawsuit filed by a victim who alleges her image was used in AI-generated pornography claims Pennsylvania State Police were aware of prior incidents of Kamnik abusing his position as a state trooper but failed to properly discipline him.

The complaint alleges Kamnik took undergarments belonging to female troopers from a locker room and kept a mannequin at his assigned station where he placed the stolen clothing to photograph it.

It also alleges Kamnik conducted traffic stops involving female motorists while presenting himself as a law enforcement officer and making degrading requests, including asking them to stick out their tongues while he secretly filmed them.