A107 (Amend Canon IV.19.12)

House of Deputies Message #326

The House of Deputies informs the House of Bishops that on Jun 28, 2024 it considered resolution A107 (Amend Canon IV.19.12). The house acted to:

Concur with Referral to an Interim Body


Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That Canon IV.19.12 is hereby amended to read as follows:

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>

Sec. 12. In all proceedings under this Title whenever a Respondent or a Complainant is required or permitted to appear or to participate or to be heard or to be present, they each shall have the right to be accompanied by and to be represented by counsel of their choice. Counsel representing respondents may not withdraw from their representation without both providing notice to the Respondent and the Church Attorney, and receiving permission to withdraw from the Panel to whom the matter is currently referred. Respondent shall be permitted the opportunity to be heard concerning the withdrawal of counsel. Notwithstanding Respondent’s right to be accompanied by and represented by counsel of their choice, any counsel determined to have previously withdrawn from representation without permission of the relevant Panel shall not be eligible to represent respondents in Title IV matters within The Episcopal Church. Whenever any notice or other document is provided to or served upon a Respondent or a Complainant under this Title, such shall also simultaneously be provided to or served upon their respective counsel, if Respondent or Complainant, as the case may be, has notified the Bishop of the identity and contact information for such counsel. Nothing in this Title shall be construed as requiring any Respondent to be represented by counsel. Anything in this Title required or permitted to be done by the Respondent’s counsel may be done by the Respondent personally.

 

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>

Sec. 12. In all proceedings under this Title whenever a Respondent or a Complainant is required or permitted to appear or to participate or to be heard or to be present, they each shall have the right to be accompanied by and to be represented by counsel of their choice. Counsel representing respondents may not withdraw from their representation without both providing notice to the Respondent and the Church Attorney, and receiving permission to withdraw from the Panel to whom the matter is currently referred. Respondent shall be permitted the opportunity to be heard concerning the withdrawal of counsel. Notwithstanding Respondent’s right to be accompanied by and represented by counsel of their choice, any counsel determined to have previously withdrawn from representation without permission of the relevant Panel shall not be eligible to represent respondents in Title IV matters within The Episcopal Church. Whenever any notice or other document is provided to or served upon a Respondent or a Complainant under this Title, such shall also simultaneously be provided to or served upon their respective counsel, if Respondent or Complainant, as the case may be, has notified the Bishop of the identity and contact information for such counsel. Nothing in this Title shall be construed as requiring any Respondent to be represented by counsel. Anything in this Title required or permitted to be done by the Respondent’s counsel may be done by the Respondent personally.