“耶和华见证人因未能排除在虐待调查之外，需支付4.8万美元的法庭费用”

　　Jehovah\'s Witnesses have been ordered to pay $48,000 in court costs to the Crown following a series of unsuccessful legal challenges against the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

　　In 2023, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah\'s Witnesses Australasia sought a judicial review in an attempt to extricate itself from the inquiry. This legal action was initiated after three years of disputes with the investigative body, aiming to avoid scrutiny.

　　The inquiry rejected the organization\'s request and the decision was subsequently appealed. However, the appellate court dismissed the organization\'s claims in April. According to royal legal documents released to the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation under the Official Information Act, the church has agreed to pay 32,321 in court costs for the High Court judicial review and an additional 13,212 in claims costs to the appellate court.

　　Since then, the organization has sought to appeal to the Supreme Court, but a ruling has yet to be made. In June of this year, the church filed an urgent claim with the Auckland High Court, attempting to obtain a preliminary copy of the final investigation report concerning their faith, but this effort was unsuccessful. The organization has also agreed to pay $2,629 in litigation costs to the Crown.

　　Just days before the final report was set to be publicly released, the organization made a last-ditch effort to prevent the inclusion of their case study in the report, but this attempt was also unsuccessful. The Royal Department of Justice has indicated that these costs are still being calculated.

　　Jehovah\'s Witnesses were the only religious group to initiate legal action against the Abuse in Care Inquiry. They have also pursued legal challenges related to similar investigations occurring worldwide, including in the United Kingdom and Australia.