Scope: Federal
Branch: Judicial
Severity: Green
Date occurred: September 24, 2026
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a 45-page decision in Gregory Hartmann, et al v. Brian Chudzik, et al, a civil rights action involving Lancaster County officials and magisterial district judges. The Cato Institute and Civil Rights Corps appeared as amici supporting appellants, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appeared as amicus supporting appellees.
Constitutional basis: Article III appellate court exercising ordinary review jurisdiction over constitutional claims against county pretrial procedures, a settled judicial function.