Editing Scientology ethics and justice (section)

=== Committee of evidence (Comm ev) ===
A ''comm ev'' is a disciplinary procedure, Scientology's version of a trial or [[tribunal]], which is "rather like a [[court martial]] but without lawyers or formal procedural norms."{{r|straus}} A scientologist is summoned to a committee of evidence to answer for a list of alleged crimes or [[#High crimes|high crimes]]. A panel of appointed scientologists in good standing are to "gather and review evidence, determine guilt, and recommend punishment."{{r|rinder|page=297}}{{r|headley|page=347}}

{{Quote frame|align=center|A Committee of Evidence is considered the most severe form of ethics action. |author=L. Ron Hubbard |source=HCO PL 29 Apr 65 III}}
The process starts at the request of an executive who makes a formal accusation. A ''convening authority'' initiates the comm ev by appointing a chairman, a secretary, and two to five other Scientology members, the majority of which should be senior to the accused. The committee will read and hear evidence for and against the accused. The panel has two weeks to complete the comm ev process. The accused may present their own evidence and testimony, as well as bring witnesses to testify, but may not bring any [[Lawyer|legal representatives]]. After reviewing evidence, the committee votes guilty or not on each charge, and conviction is determined by majority vote. The committee recommends punishment and the results are published as the ''findings and recommendations'' signed by all committee members. The only means of recourse is a ''review'' by a higher level committee, which reviews only recordings and documents from the original comm ev — no new evidence to be presented.<ref>{{citation |date=September 1963 |title=HCOPL 7 Sep 63 Committees of Evidence – Scientology Jurisprudence, Administration of |publisher=Church of Scientology}}</ref>

{{anchor|sec check}}