Chapter IV: Common provisions.

The chamber to which an appeal is referred may seek the opinion of another chamber to which an appeal is referred on a point of law which falls within the jurisdiction of that chamber. The Advocate General and the parties are notified of this by the president of the chamber to which the appeal is referred. They may submit observations before the chamber called upon to give its opinion. The…

When the Cour de cassation invites a person to submit general observations on the points it determines pursuant to article L. 431-3-1 of the Code of Judicial Organisation, the latter may make written observations, which are then communicated to the parties, or be heard during a hearing to which the parties are summoned. The parties are given a period of time in which to submit their written observations.

In accordance with articles 11-1 and 11-2 of Law no. 72-626 of 5 July 1972 as amended, the proceedings shall be public. The Court may, however, decide that the hearings shall take place or continue in chambers if their public nature would infringe the privacy of the parties, or if all the parties so request, or if any disorder arises that is likely to disturb the serenity of justice. Decisions…

The report is made at the hearing.

The lawyers shall be heard after the report if they so request. The parties may also be heard after being authorised to do so by the chairman.

The Court of Cassation rules after hearing the opinion of the public prosecutor.

The judgment refers to the rule of law on which the cassation is based.

The judgment shall be signed by the President, the rapporteur(s) and the Registrar.

A copy of the judgment shall be sent to the court from which the contested decision emanates.

In cases for which the parties are exempted from the assistance of a lawyer at the Conseil d’Etat and the Cour de cassation, decisions of cassation are notified by the registry of the Cour de cassation by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt; decisions of dismissal or of cassation without referral are brought by simple letter to the attention of the parties who are not assisted or represented by a…