[Ansteorra] Banishments and the BoD

[Paul Foster]

Greetings,

If anyone really wants to learn about banishments, the current version of
Corpora is posted on the web at:
www.sca.org/docs/govdocs200110.pdf

This is a pdf file, meaning you will need Adobe Acrobat (free download) to
read it.

The Board of Directors (BoD) cannot banish anyone.  This is a privilege
restricted to Crowns.  Such banishments must be announced in court and
published in the Kingdom newsletter.  There are no guidelines I know of
regarding where in the newsletter it is to be published.

There are three levels of banishment.  Level 1 - Banishment from the
Presence means you cannot interact with the Crown for the term of the
banishment.  Level 2 - Banishment from the Realm means you cannot interact
with any officer  for the term of the banishment.  You can attend events,
but not fight in lists (interaction with Marshall), participate in A&S
competition (interaction with A&S Minister) etc.  Limited participation,
and it only applies to the issuing Kingdom.  Level 3 - Absolute Banishment
means you cannot participate in any SCA activities in any Kingdom for the
term of the banishment.

All banishments last no longer than the reign of the Crown who issues them,
though they can be given a shorter term by the Crown if desired.

Only the person who is banished is given the reason for the
banishment.  This reason is not published or discussed for many reasons,
which have already been covered on this list.

Level 2 and 3 banishments cause automatic review by the BoD.  This was
designed to prevent a Crown from abusing the power of banishment.  The
review covers only two subjects: 1) was the banishment done correctly (read
in court, published, notice to the banished party, etc.) ? and 2) was it
for a valid reason.

For a level 3 banishment, if upheld by the BoD, an investigation is then
started by the Society Seneschal to review the cause of the banishment and
determine if the membership of the individual should be revoked and denied
(R&D).  An R&D may be for a limited term or permanent.  Other sanctions may
be recommended by the Society Seneschal based upon the results of the
investigation (such as the individual may be denied the right to hold any
office in the SCA for some period of time.)  When the investigation is
completed, a copy is sent to the person who was banished and they are told
how to reply to the BoD.  This copy is sent in sufficient time for them to
respond before the BoD will consider the issue.

If this sounds slow, it is, and deliberately so.  While there is no wish to
prolong an uncomfortable situation, there is a great desire not to remove
someone from our Society without being sure it is the correct thing to
do.  So it usually takes a least two quarterly meetings for the Board to
act on a level 3 banishment.  The first meeting to uphold and begin the
investigation, the second (and sometimes third and fourth) to review the
findings of that investigation and the reply from the affected person.

I would be glad to discuss this further if anyone has any questions.

Rhodri