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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?