A couple of things.
In 2002, I attended MTS, Ministerial Training School. Both instructors were long time DOs. One served a stint on the Service Desk. Here is what they said regarding this matter:
WT policy on DA is to accept a letter, but try to get in person verification. A notorized letter is gold, but rarely given. This is especially true when a letter is received out of the blue. If verification cannot be had by in person or by phone witnessed by 2 elders, then any DA announcement would be held in abeyance pending Branch direction. If the person insisted, then after 7 days the announcement would be made.
As the manual posted earlier stated, if a JC was in process, that would end but would be put in the local file along with the notification to the Branch about the DA. If the person came back, then the original JC matter would be reopened.
We as a class were told never request a letter. NEVER. I can also tell you each of us elders in the class knew of individual elders or bodies of elders who disregarded official policy and indeed did solicit DA letters because the wanted the individual gone. The instructors also knew of this happening and said it was against policy.
I sat on a JC of an apostasy case, which I have discussed on this forum (ironically, someone who used to post here). There were elders who wanted this guy gone, he was considered a troublemaker. Too much thinking on his part. Cooler heads prevailed, CO got involved, made the entire body sit on his JC case. Voted to DF, unanimously. It was a loyalty test. Then the appeals committee met with all of us and upheld it. That is what this fellow wanted, he challenged the system, knowing the outcome. He did not DA.
By action or letter, you can be DA. Officially you cannot be pressured into a DA. Unofficially, that $hit happened all the time.
Snakes (Rich)