Decisions taken by the first president of the court of appeal may, within ten days of notification, be appealed to a national commission for compensation for detentions. This commission, which is attached to the Cour de cassation, rules in a sovereign capacity and its decisions are not subject to appeal of any kind.
The bureau of the Cour de cassation may decide that the national commission will comprise several panels.
The national commission, or where applicable each of the panels it comprises, is composed of the first president of the Cour de cassation, or his representative, who chairs it, and two judges from the bench of the court holding the rank of chamber president, councillor or referendary councillor, appointed annually by the bureau of the court. In addition to these two magistrates, this bureau also appoints, under the same conditions, three alternates.
The functions of the public prosecutor are performed by the public prosecutor’s office at the Court of Cassation.
The provisions of article 149-2 shall apply to decisions handed down by the national commission.