Court of Review

The Canons provide for a Court of Review for disciplinary matters involving Priests and Deacons and a separate Court of Review for matters involving Bishops. Its purpose is to receive and determine appeals from Hearing Panels of any diocese as provided in Title IV.15, to determine venue issues as provided in Title IV.19.5, and to claims of undue delay pursuant to Title IV.15.1.

The composition of the Court of Review is prescribed in Title IV.5.4.(a) to include Bishops, Priests, Deacons and lay persons, selected as provided in Section 4. Priests, Deacons and lay persons selected must be or have been members of Disciplinary Boards of their respective dioceses. There are additional provided in the case of unavailability or disqualification of any member. The Panel may not include any Priest or Deacon who is canonically resident in the same diocese as the diocese of the Hearing Panel. The Court of Review shall select a president from among its members. Whenever a matter is referred to the Court of Review, the President appoints a panel for that case to include one Bishop, two Members of the Clergy and two lay persons.