Hearing on Canyon Postponed : Jurisprudence: Judge to rule first whether Southern Section probe would violate injunction protecting Welch’s coaching job.

The Southern Section has postponed its hearing to investigate the Canyon High football program, and attorneys from all sides will appear in San Fernando Superior Court this morning to learn if the hearing violates a court injunction. The inquiry originally was scheduled for Wednesday.

Attorneys for Canyon football Coach Harry Welch and the William S. Hart Union High School District asked for today’s hearing in Judge Haig Kehiayan’s courtroom to challenge the Southern Section plan to conduct an inquiry into the Canyon program. The probe centers on charges that Canyon conducted off-season practices in violation of section rules.

The section’s executive committee called for the inquiry after Kehiayan granted Welch a preliminary injunction in August that stayed a 5 1/2-month suspension. The Southern Section recommended the penalty after Commissioner Stan Thomas had investigated accusations that Canyon conducted an illegal off-season practice.

Thomas emphasized when he announced the hearing that no penalties would be directed at Welch. Regardless, Stephen J. Tully, Welch’s attorney, called the hearing an end run around the injunction, which prohibits “any act designed to and having the effect of discouraging, inhibiting or interfering with Welch’s position as football coach.”

Wendy Wiles, the attorney for the Hart district, has similar concerns about the hearing, but Southern Section attorney Andy Patterson believes Kehiayan will rule otherwise.

“I don’t believe the judge issued that sweeping of an order,” he said. “I know that (Tully) believes Welch is being hurt, but I don’t agree with that.”

Patterson agreed to postpone the hearing before the executive committee when Wiles complained that the section had not provided details about the charges that would be discussed at the hearing. However, Patterson claims that today’s hearing before Kehiayan is unnecessary.

On Thursday, Patterson secured a Dec. 4 date in Kehiayan’s court to learn if the hearing violates the injunction. Tully, whose office informed Patterson of today’s court date at 11 a.m. Thursday, is eager to have Kehiayan rule.

“We’re better off knowing now, rather than waiting until the eve of some hearing,” Tully said. “The ruling will affect how all parties prepare for this thing.”

Tully and Wiles have raised doubts about the impartiality of the section’s proposed hearing because three members of the executive committee already evaluated testimony against Welch at a hearing in the summer. In addition, Wiles has questioned the Southern Section’s motives in calling for the inquiry.

“I don’t know if this is just an attempt to clear their name,” she said.