After nearly four hours of argument and examination and cross examination of witnesses, the hearing judge continued the case

In a beautiful courtroom at the Newberry County (S.C.) Courthouse, Judge Griffith of the 8th Circuit Court convened a hearing on a Temporary Restraining Order against the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) denomination at 11:05 a.m.

With only a 10 minute recess to allow court officials to take a necessary break, the hearing continued until nearly 2:45 p.m.

After opening statements by attorneys from both sides (30 minutes plaintiff, 15 minutes defendants), both sides called witnesses and introduced a number of new documents.

At the end, attorneys from both sides agreed that they needed more time to file additional briefs responding to new evidence presented. The judge gave them until Tuesday, March 30, to file those briefs, and promised to issue his findings in the case no later than 10 days from today’s date.

Court officials feel confident that there will no additional hearing and that the judge will send a written finding to the Clerk of Court at the Abbeville (SC) Courthouse where the case was initially filed.

Since 10 days from the hearing would be a Sunday, all expectations are that the finding will be filed on Friday, April 2.

A more detailed account of what occurred in the courtroom today will be filed later.