Managing Partner, Matthew Haverstick was quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer on arguments before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenging a law that allows a special prosecutor to pursue crimes on and around SEPTA properties. The law in question gives shared jurisdiction to the state and D.A. Larry Krasner to investigate and prosecute crimes within a public transportation system in a county with more than 1.5 million residents. Krasner initially filed the lawsuit opposing the law in January 2024, arguing that it is unconstitutional because it singles out Philadelphia and strips away the authority of an elected district attorney. In June, the Commonwealth Court ruled that that the law was constitutional, and Krasner brought an appeal to the state Supreme Court, which heard arguments on May 14, 2025 but did not issue a ruling.
Haverstick, who represents SEPTA, noted that “there is zero text in the constitution that prevents state legislators from regulating a district attorney.”
SEPTA was not named in the initial lawsuit, but successfully filed a petition to intervene and support the law.
“The General Assembly decides what the duties and jurisdiction of a district attorney are,” Haverstick said. “That’s exactly what’s happened here. This is not novel. This is not unique.”
Coverage on the argument can also be found in The Legal Intelligencer, and Law360.
