IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

WESTERN DISTRICT

IN RE: FORTIETH STATEWIDE 

INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY

PETITION OF: M.L.

:

:

:

:

:

No. 77 WM 2018

ORDER

PER CURIAM

AND NOW, this 6th day of July, 2018, upon consideration of the Petition for 

Review, and in light of the Office of Attorney General’s indication that it has not fully 

developed the merits of its counter-argument and its request to submit additional briefing 

should this dispute proceed beyond the initial filings, this matter is to be considered by 

the Court upon full briefing by the parties on an expedited basis. 

Petitioner is challenging a June 5, 2018 order which the supervising judge certified 

for appellate review. See Pa.R.A.P. 3331(a)(5). As identified in Petitioner’s General 

Statement of Objections to the Order, with some rephrasing by this Court, Petitioner is 

presenting the following appellate claims:

1. Whether the Report’s finding that Petitioner witnessed child sexual abuse 

by a fellow priest and failed to report that abuse to law enforcement is false 

and not supported by a preponderance of the evidence.

2. Whether the supervising judge violated Petitioner’s fundamental rights to 

his good reputation and due process of law under Article I Section 1, 9, and 

11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution by denying him a pre-deprivation 

hearing.
[77 WM 2018] - 2

Petitioner’s brief is due by 2:00 p.m. on July 10, 2018. At that time, Petitioner shall 

present an unredacted brief, which shall be filed under seal. Simultaneously, to ensure 

as much public access as possible without violating grand jury secrecy, Petitioner shall 

submit a redacted version of the brief suitable for public docketing. The Office of Attorney 

General, as the opposing party, shall review Petitioner’s redacted brief and, no later than 

2:00 p.m. on July 13, shall file a letter with the Prothonotary, either certifying that the 

Office of Attorney General agrees that the redacted brief does not violate grand jury 

secrecy or objecting to the release of the redacted version of the brief on the basis that it 

allegedly violates grand jury secrecy. 

In the event the Office of Attorney General certifies that it agrees that Petitioner’s 

redacted brief does not violate grand jury secrecy, the document shall be immediately 

docketed for public view. If the Office of Attorney General objects to the release of the 

redacted version, such objections shall be immediately forwarded to the supervising judge 

for his prompt consideration and disposition. 

The Office of Attorney General’s appellate brief shall be due by 2:00 p.m. on July 

13, 2018. At that time, the Office of Attorney General shall present an unredacted brief, 

which shall be filed under seal. Simultaneously, the Office of Attorney General shall 

submit a redacted version of the brief suitable for public docketing. Petitioner, as the 

opposing party, shall review the redacted brief. Following that review, and no later than 

2:00 p.m. on July 17, 2018, Petitioner shall file a letter, either certifying agreement that 

the Office of Attorney General’s redacted brief does not violate grand jury secrecy or 

identifying with specificity any aspects of the redacted version which Petitioner believes 

violate such secrecy. 

In the event Petitioner certifies agreement that the Office of Attorney General’s 

redacted brief does not violate grand jury secrecy, the document shall be immediately 
[77 WM 2018] - 3

docketed for public view. In the event Petitioner objects to the release of the redacted 

version, such objections shall be immediately forwarded to the supervising judge for his 

prompt consideration and disposition. 

The parties are cautioned against instigating unnecessary ancillary litigation 

regarding the production of redacted versions of the brief suitable for public docketing, 

and any such ancillary litigation will not delay this Court’s resolution of the challenges to 

the Report.

Any amicus curiae briefs, regardless of which side they support, shall be due by 

2:00 p.m. on the fourth business day following the public disclosure of Petitioner’s or the 

Office of Attorney General’s redacted brief, whichever occurs later. 

In consideration of the timeliness concerns, the parties will not be permitted to 

submit reply briefs. Service of all submissions must be made at the time of filing via efiling, fax, e-mail, or personal delivery. Requests for changes to the briefing schedule will 

not be entertained, and no extensions will be granted. 

Consistent with the expedited treatment of this matter, the request of the Office of 

Attorney General to proceed to oral argument, which it has made in several of its answers, 

is DENIED. This matter will be submitted on the briefs. 

The instant order is unsealed.