3/21/2018 1 Formal Case Process Father Mark Richards, JCL Cheryl Tholcke Formal Case Process Purpose: To provide Parish Advocates with an understanding of the process, why it takes as long as it does, and what the hold‐ups can be. To assist Parish Advocates in helping Petitioners avoid unnecessary delays.
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Formal Case Process
FatherMarkRichards,JCLCherylTholcke
Formal Case Process
Purpose:
ToprovideParishAdvocateswithanunderstandingoftheprocess,whyittakesaslongasitdoes,andwhatthehold‐upscanbe.
ToassistParishAdvocatesinhelpingPetitionersavoidunnecessarydelays.
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1. Registration of the Case
CasesaresubmittedbytheParishAdvocateonly.
Delaysarecausedbymissingdocuments,missingsignatures,missinginformation,missingwitnesses.
AletteracknowledgingreceiptofthecaseissenttotheParishAdvocate.
Submitting a Formal Case
FormCincludes:• BiographicalInformation• MaritalHistory• MarriageunderInvestigation• Oath• FormalPetition(Libellus)• Intentions• WitnessList• MandateforParishAdvocate• CounselorReleaseForm
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Submitting a Formal Case
RequiredDocuments:• SummaryStatementbyPetitioner,signedanddated
• Baptismalcertificatewithnotations,issuedwithinsixmonths
• Original,certifiedmarriagecertificate/license• Certifieddivorcedecrees(Judgmentand NoticeofEntryofJudgment),musthavestamporseal
• Advocate’sNotesConcerningthePetitioner,signedanddated
• $150deposit(orpaymentinfull,$600)
Submitting a Formal Case
OtherDocuments:(mayberequired)• AffidavitofDiligentSearch• Decree(s)ofNullity• DeathCertificate• WitnessAffidavitsRegardingBaptism
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About the Respondent
ParticipationofRespondent• Everyreasonablemethodoffindingtherespondent(includingInternetsearch)mustbedocumentedbyPetitioner,beforedeclaringRespondent’swhereaboutsunknown.
About the Respondent
ViolentRespondent• Evenviolentrespondentshaverights• Documentedevidence(e.g.,restrainingorder)
• Canbecitedthroughanothertribunal• JudicialVicarassessesanyconcerns
FailuretorespecttherightsoftheRespondentrenderstheprocessnullandvoid.
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2. Acceptance of the Petition (Libellus) and Citation of the Parties VerificationofData AcceptanceorRejection CitationoftheParties◦ DecreeofAcceptanceandCitation◦ DefenderoftheBondisnamed
Partiesaregiventhree(3)weekstorespond.
Acceptance or Rejection
JudicialVicarreviewsSummaryStatementtoseeifthereisanyindicationofgrounds.• Ifyes,caseisaccepted.• Ifnot,SummaryStatementsentbacktoParishAdvocatetoworkwithPetitionertoprovidemoreinformation.
• Ifnousefulinformationisadded,thecaseisrejected.ADecreeofRejectionisissued.
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Ordinary or Briefer Process
JudicialVicardetermineswhetherthecasemayqualifyforthe“BrieferProcess”orwhetheritwillbedonethroughtheordinaryprocess.
(TheBrieferProcesswillbeexplainedlater.)
Citation of the Petitioner
CoverLetter(copysenttoParishAdvocate)
CopyofDecreeofAcceptanceandCitation
AccountStatement PaymentOptionForm Self‐AddressedEnvelope
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Citation of the Respondent(via certified mail)
CoverLetter CopyofDecreeofAcceptanceandCitation “TenRightsoftheRespondent” CopyofPetition(Libellus)p.4ofFormC CopyofSummaryStatement MandateforAdvocate LetterofIntenttoParticipate AnnulmentBrochure Self‐Addressed,StampedEnvelope
Rights of the Respondent
Summons KnowtheGrounds Advocate ProposeWitnesses KnowNamesofWitnesses InspecttheActs OfferAdditionalProofs ReplytoConclusion ReviewtheSentence AppealorComplaint
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3. Joinder of Issues (Contestatio Litis) / Constitution of the Court / Instruction Includes:• Dateofcaseacceptance• CompetenceofTribunaltohearthecase• Ground(s)onwhichcasewillbetried• Judgesassignedtothecase• Auditorassignedtothecase• Beginningof“Instruction”(gatheringtestimony)
Competence (c. 1672)
DeterminationofCompetence(Jurisdiction)
1°Diocesewheremarriagetookplace
2°DioceseofthedomicileofPetitionerorRespondent
3°Diocesewheremostoftheproofswillbecollected
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Joinder of Issues (Contestatio Litis)
BasedoninformationreceivedinthePetitioner’sSummaryStatement,theJudicialVicarsetsthegroundsthecasewillbetriedon,intheformofaquestion:
"Is it certain that the marriage contracted by Miranda Marie Smith and Armando Leon Cortez on June 26, 2001, before Rev. John M. Mason at St. Celestine Parish in Birds Crossing, CA, was invalid on the grounds of a grave defect of discretion of judgment concerning the essential matrimonial rights and duties mutually to be handed over and accepted (1983 CIC, c. 1095, n.2), on the part of the Petitioner?”
Constitution of the Court
OurTribunalutilizesathree‐judgecourt:• PresidingJudge– JudicialVicar• Judgeponens• CollegiateJudge
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Instruction of the Case
Petitioner,Respondent,andwitnessesaresentquestionnaires.Requestedtoreplywithinthree(3)weeks.Additionalfollow‐ups(foratotalofsixweeks)mayfollow.
Partiesand/orwitnessesmayrequesttelephoneorpersonalinterview.Interviewsaretranscribed(andtranslatedasneeded).
Instruction of the Case
TheTribunalhasNOcontroloverthetimingorqualityofproofs(evidence).Weoftenencounter:• witnessesnotnotifiedinadvancebyparties• anger,indignation,anti‐Catholicresponses• witnesseswhodon’twanttosayanythingcritical(especiallyparents)
Consequently,repeatedfollow‐upisoftenrequired. Processcantakeanywherefromafewmonthstoayearormore.
Failuretoobtainrequiredproofsmayleadtowithdrawalorabandonmentofcase,oranegativedecision.
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Gathering and Evaluation of the Proofs Auditorgathers,reads,andreviewstestimony.
AuditorconsultswithJudgeponens. Ifneeded,additionalquestionsaresenttothepartiesand/orwitnesses.
TheburdenofproofrestsonthePetitioner,notontheTribunal.
Gathering and Evaluation of the Proofs Ifproofsarelacking:• Ifthereisreasontobelievethatmoreproofsmaybeavailablebutarenotimmediatelyforthcoming,casemayberenouncedorabated.
• Ifitappearsthereisnothingfurthertobeobtained,casewilllikelygetanegativedecision.
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Court Expert Witness
Ifthecaseisbasedonc.1095,thetestimonyissenttoacourt‐appointedexpert.
TheexpertisaCatholicpsychologistwhoreviewsthetestimonyandpreparesaconfidentialreportforthecourt.
Insomecases,theexpertwitnessmayinterviewoneorbothoftheparties.
4. Publication of the Acts
Petitioner,Respondent,andParishAdvocatereceiveletterandcopyofthisdecree.
BothpartiesandParishAdvocatemayclarify,challenge,orrequesttoaddtestimony.
Ifnewtestimonyistobeadded,aDecreeofDelayofJudgmentmaybepermittedbythejudge.
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Delay of Judgment
AfteraDelayofJudgment,theActsarepublishedagainandthenormalprocesscontinues.
5. Conclusion of the Case
DecreeofConclusion◦ IssuedthreeweeksafterPublicationoftheActs;allevidencegatheringisconcluded.
DefenderoftheBond◦ Reviewsproceduralelementsandevidence.◦Writesabrieftothecourtinsupportofthemarriagebond.
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6. Decision and Sentence
Casegoestothejudgesforadecision. Judgeponens isresponsibleforpreparingtheargumentandproposingadecisionforthejudges.
Eachjudgemusteachreachmoralcertitudeinhisdecisionthatatleastone oftheproposedgroundsisproven.• Affirmative=marriagedeclarednull• Negative=marriageremainsvalid
Sentence
Judgeponens signsfirst,followedbyCollegiateJudge,followedbyPresidingJudge
Sentenceincludes:◦ TheFacts◦ TheLaw◦ TheArgument◦ TheDecision
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Restrictions
Monitum (Warning)◦ Recommends someactiontobetakenpriortoanewmarriage.
Vetitum (Prohibition)◦ Requires someactiontobetakenpriortonewmarriage.
Publication of the Sentence
Eitherpartyand/orParishAdvocatemaycomeintoreadtheSentence.
PartiesandtheirAdvocateshavethreeweekstonotifytheTribunalthattheywanttocomeinandreadtheSentence.
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Appeal
OpportunityforAppeal• Eitherparty– ortheDefenderoftheBond– mayappealanaffirmativeoranegativedecisiontotheCourtofSecondInstance– theMetropolitanTribunalofSanFrancisco.
• Appealmustbesubmittedwithinthreeweeks.
• CasemayalsobeappealeddirectlytotheRomanRota.
Execution of the Sentence
Ifthereisnoappealafterthreeweeks,thefinaldecreesareissued.
PetitionerreceivesoriginalDecreeofDefinitiveDecisionandExecutionoftheSentence.
Respondentreceivesaletterlettinghim/herknowtheoutcomeofthecase.
ParishAdvocatereceivesacopyofthedecreestofileattheparish.
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Execution of the Sentence (continued) Parish(es)ofbaptismoftheCatholicparty(ies)andchurchofmarriage(ifCatholic)arenotifiedofthedecisionandrequestedtoenterinformationintosacramentalregisters.
Thecaseisthenclosed. Partiesarefreetomarryorbebaptizedaslongasallotherrequirementsofthelawhavebeenfulfilled.
Reminders
DONOTsetaweddingdateorpromisebaptismuntilthedecisionhasbeenconfirmedbytheissuanceoftheDecreeofExecution.Toomanythingsarebeyondourcontrol.DelayedweddingsALWAYSleadtounhappybridesandgrooms.Delayedbaptismsleadtoenormousdisappointment.Falsepromisesonlyincreasepeople’sangerandfrustrationtowardtheChurchinanalreadydifficultsituation.
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Reminders
Please… Helppetitionergathertheneededdocumentsandfilloutformscompletely.
RemindthemoftheneedtoinformtheRespondentandwitnessesinadvanceiftheyexpecttheircooperation.
Bepastorallysensitiveindescribingthepotentialdifficultiesanddelays.Thisisnotthetimeforrosy‐eyedoptimism.
Feelfreetocallandaskquestions,toseewherethecaseisintheprocess,andtoaskwhatyoucandotohelp.
About Tribunal Fees
Awkwardtotalkabout Tribunaloperatesondeficitbudget,subsidizedbyDiocesanAssessment
Professionallayemployeesmustbepaid(“Thelaborerdeserveshis/herwage”)
Averageformalcasecostsinexcessof$1500toprocess
Currentfeeforaformalcaseis$600
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The Briefer ProcessRev.MarkR.Richards,JCL
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The Briefer Process
NewprocessintroducedbyPopeFrancis Requires cooperationofPetitionerandRespondent,whomustordinarilypresentthecasetogether,oratleastwiththeexplicitconsentoftheRespondent
Requires irrefutableproofupfront(immediatelymanifest)
PracticalExamples…
The Briefer Process
ContactFr.Markdirectlytodiscussthesituationpriorto submittingcase: Arebothpartiesgoingtocooperate?Whataretheproposedgroundsthatareimmediatelymanifest?Whatistheirrefutableproofthatwillbepresented?
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The Briefer Process
• Ifaccepted,theJudicialVicar• NamesInstructorandAssessor• CitesParties,DefenderoftheBond,and
Witnesses
The Briefer Process
TheInstructor:◦ Collectsproofsinasinglesession◦ GivesDefenderoftheBondandAdvocates15daystopresentobservations
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The Briefer Process
TheDiocesanBishop:◦ ConsultswiththeInstructorandAssessor◦ ReviewsobservationsofDefenderoftheBondandAdvocates◦ Ifmoralcertitudeisreached,hedeclaresthemarriageinvalid◦ Ifnot,thecaserevertstotheOrdinaryProcess
Appeal of the Briefer Process
• GoestoMetropolitanArchbishopofSanFrancisco• Giventhenatureofthecase,suchappealsshouldberaretonon‐existent.
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The Briefer Process
Questions, comments, concerns?
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