Section 31 Procedural mattersI1

England Not yet in force

(1)

The standard of proof to be applied by a bishop’s disciplinary tribunal or the Vicar-General’s court in the exercise of jurisdiction under this Measure is the balance of probabilities.

(2)

A decision by the tribunal or court is to be taken by a majority of its members, except for a decision on a question of law or procedure; and a decision on a question of that description is to be taken by the Chair sitting alone.

(3)

The tribunal or court is to sit in public except—

(a)

in circumstances in which the tribunal or court is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to sit in private, or

(b)

in such circumstances as the rules may specify.

(4)

Where the tribunal or court is to sit in public, it may exclude such persons as it decides from the whole or part of the proceedings.

(5)

The rules may make provision for—

(a)

the joinder of a complaint with one or more others;

(b)

the termination or withdrawal of a complaint or part of a complaint;

(c)

the making of a full or partial admission to conduct alleged in a complaint.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: S. 31 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 73(3)