All contentious incidents are settled by the court, the public prosecutor, the parties or their lawyers heard.
These rulings cannot prejudge the merits.
When the assize court examines the case on appeal, these judgments may only be challenged by way of cassation, at the same time as the judgment on the merits. When the assize court examines the case at first instance, these judgments may not be appealed, but, in the event of an appeal against the judgment on the merits and reconsideration of the case before another assize court, they do not have the authority of res judicata before that court.