​​​5.2.20 Subpoenas of Employees or Documents and Witness Statements​​

​Staff members who are served a subpoena to appear and testify on archdiocese-related business must notify the person in charge and the archdiocesan Office of the Legal Counsel immediately. A copy of the subpoena and all associated documents must be forwarded promptly to the archdiocesan Office of the Legal Counsel. The Office of the Legal Counsel's policy and practice is to assist staff in the proceedings where they are being called to be a witness because of their status in the archdiocese.

If a subpoena is served or a request is received seeking records or documents from the location or staff, all pages of the subpoena or request must be forwarded immediately to the archdiocesan Office of the Legal Counsel​, which will provide instructions on how to respond.

Staff members may not agree to provide voluntary written or oral witness statements or declarations or copies of records to any third party (e.g., a parishioner, a parent/guardian, a volunteer, or staff members from other locations) without first obtaining permission from the person in charge, in consultation with the Office of the Legal Counsel​. Staff members should not volunteer to appear in any judicial proceeding and should notify the person in charge and the Office of the Legal Counsel in advance if they intend to appear in any judicial proceeding on behalf of a location. In case of an accident, follow the procedures set forth in Accident Procedures. If the request seeks student records, follow the procedures set forth in Pupil Records.​

3-10-21