Judge Judith Atherton of the state's Third District said that there was a "substantial probability she may become competent in the foreseeable future."

It said: "The issuance of the stay suggests that a majority of the court, while not deciding the issues presented, believe that the petitioner has a substantial probability of success."

At the same time people want to feel that there is a substantial probability that they will succeed.

There must be a substantial probability that the medication will enable the defendant to become competent without substantial undermining side effects.

For the court to deny bail and order preventive detention, it must be persuaded that a substantial probability exists that the defendant committed the crime that has brought him before the court.

Those violations were classified as serious, meaning that there was "a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result," university officials said.

This led the authors to conclude that there was a substantial probability that some of the inmates were aware and suffered extreme pain and distress during execution.

"For a number of months there was a substantial probability that SmithKline would be taken over or merged, or that parts of the business would be sold."

The Bush team "has a substantial probability of success," he said.

On one level, that statement was simple boilerplate: any party seeking a stay from the United States Supreme Court, or any other court, ordinarily has to show a substantial probability of success.