IN RE: FORTIETH STATEWIDE INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY, PETITION OF: ESTATE OF L.O.

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: July 6, 2018
• Docket: 84 WM 2018
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN DISTRICT

IN RE: FORTIETH INVESTIGATIVE : No. 84 WM 2018 GRAND JURY : : : PETITION OF: ESTATE OF L.O. :

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 19, 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 supervising judge’s denial of a pre-deprivation hearing was improper where the characterization of Petitioner’s decedent as an “offender” related to “child sexual abuse” in Report No. 1 is not supported by a preponderance of the evidence?

2. Whether the supervising judge violated the fundamental rights of Petitioner’s decedent to his good reputation and due process of law under Article I Sections 1, 9, and 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution? 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, 2018, 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

[84 WM 2018] - 2 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 e-

filing, 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.

[84 WM 2018] - 3