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Joseph John Slack v. Robert McHugh, et al.

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, No. 24-2153 · judgment September 29, 2025


Certiorari denied · February 23, 2026
Pre-decision estimate: 2% cert probability

Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.

Question presented

Whether the presentment of a statewide investigating grand jury in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania constitutes prima facie evidence of probable cause when Pennsylvania law precludes a statewide investigating grand jury from making a determination as to whether probable cause exists to support felony charges. (i)

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Sal Cognetti Jr.

For respondent
Michael John Scarinci
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Feb 23 2026
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Jan 14 2026
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
  3. Jan 12 2026
    Waiver of right of respondent Robert McHugh, et al. to respond filed.
  4. Dec 29 2025
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 30, 2026)