In re: Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, Petition of: M.L.

Summary

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued a per curiam order addressing M.L.’s petition challenging a supervising judge’s June 5, 2018 order concerning findings in the Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury report. The Court established an expedited briefing schedule, directed the filing and review of sealed and redacted briefs, denied oral argument, and ordered that the matter be submitted on the briefs.

Holdings

1. Because the Office of Attorney General indicated that it had not fully developed its counter-argument and requested an opportunity for additional briefing, the matter would be considered after full expedited briefing by the parties.
2. The Office of Attorney General's request for oral argument was denied, and the matter was ordered submitted on the briefs.
3. The parties were required to submit unredacted briefs under seal and contemporaneous redacted versions for public docketing, subject to review and objection concerning grand-jury secrecy.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the grand-jury report's finding that M.L. witnessed child sexual abuse by a fellow priest and failed to report it to law enforcement was false and unsupported by a preponderance of the evidence.
2. Whether the supervising judge violated M.L.'s rights to reputation and due process under Article I, Sections 1, 9, and 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution by denying him a pre-deprivation hearing.
3. What briefing and submission procedures should govern the expedited consideration of M.L.'s petition for review.

Disposition

other