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Phone: (717) 556-1072
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Carson B. Morris, Esq.
Senior Counsel
Carson B. Morris, Esq. is a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense, Internal Investigations, Appellate and Post-Trial Advocacy, and Regulatory and Government Affairs teams. He represents businesses, municipalities, and individuals facing criminal or regulatory investigations, legislative inquiries, whistleblower accusations, and other proceedings involving allegations of misconduct. Carson brings a wealth of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney to each engagement, using his expertise to help clients navigate complex criminal and civil litigation in federal and state courts, as well as in administrative proceedings.
Carson most recently served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s (OAG) Appeals and Legal Services Section. In this role, he focused on grand jury litigation and regularly shepherded the OAG’s most significant investigations through the grand jury process. Carson worked closely on investigations with attorneys throughout the OAG, including the Public Corruption, Environmental Crimes, Fair Labor, and Criminal Prosecutions Sections. In addition, Carson oversaw long-term, state-wide appellate initiatives by collaborating closely with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, local District Attorneys (DAs), government agencies and outside stakeholders. For example, Carson coordinated a years-long campaign defending the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s sexual offender registration system that culminated in several Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinions affirming the constitutionality of these statutes. Carson also worked closely with the OAG’s Civil Division on Commonwealth Court and federal cases involving the intersection of civil/regulatory law and criminal law.
Prior to joining the OAG, Carson was a trial and appellate attorney with renowned Philadelphia firms with a focus in white collar criminal and regulatory defense in federal and state courts. He tried jury trials, argued before state and federal appellate courts, including numerous cases before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, oversaw internal investigations of institutional and corporate misconduct, among many other representative matters.
PRACTICES
EDUCATION
University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D., 2008
George Washington University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2001
BAR ADMISSIONS
Pennsylvania
New Jersey (inactive)
COURT ADMISSIONS
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Memberships
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Former Temple American Inn of Court, Executive Board Officer and Inn Treasurer
Relevant Experience
Prosecutorial Matters
Report No. 1 of the Forty-Third Statewide Investigating Grand Jury: Specially assigned to Grand Jury’s investigation into the unconventional oil and gas industry (“fracking”) in Pennsylvania. Litigated various matters in the investigation and integrally involved in preparation of Grand Jury’s Report and entry of criminal charges against oil and gas companies.
In re: Return of Seized Property of Lackawanna County: Successful appeal before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania confirming authority of supervising judges of statewide investigating grand juries to issue search warrants involving grand jury investigation, reversing lower court
Commonwealth v Butler: Successfully defended before Supreme Court of Pennsylvania constitutionality of sexually violent predator provisions of Pennsylvania’s sexual offender registration statute, reversing lower court
In re H.R.: Successfully defended before Supreme Court of Pennsylvania constitutionality of statute authorizing the civil commitment of “Sexually Violent Delinquent Children,” a narrow class of particularly dangerous sex offenders who lack the capacity to refrain from committing sexually violent acts
Report No. 1 of the Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury: Served on team of OAG prosecutors who prepared and litigated the release of Grand Jury’s investigation into the sexual abuse of children in Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania
Client Matters
Collaborated closely with a colleague in appeal of conviction of a prominent union leader before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Worked with a colleague in successful defense of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrative action against owner of chain of medical clinics
Commonwealth v. Weigle: Successful appeal before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania limiting prosecution’s authority to modify criminal charges following a preliminary hearing
Assisted in representation of Philadelphia police captain tried in federal district court, resulting in hung jury
Represented owner of chain of chiropractic clinics convicted of criminal tax offenses in appeal before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Represented an alleged mafia associate in significant organized crime prosecution in federal district court
Not guilty jury trial verdict for client charged in series of burglaries and facing decades in prison and deportation
Attained collateral relief and new trial for client convicted of attempted murder and serving over 25 years in prison
Successfully represented non-citizen business owner in removal proceedings in federal immigration court
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Lancaster
280 Granite Run Drive, Suite #300
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (717) 556-1000
Fax: (717) 441-3810
Harrisburg
4250 Crums Mill Road, Suite #201
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: (717) 216-5505
Fax: (717) 547-1900
Malvern
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Malvern, PA 19355
Phone: (484) 328-8500
Fax: (484) 713-5241