Chapter II: Organisation and operation

The President of the Commercial Court is deputised in his functions by a Vice-President. The latter is appointed under the same conditions as those provided for deputising in the event of impediment in article R. 722-12. He is chosen from judges who have held office in a commercial court for at least three years. The order appointing the vice-chairman may be amended during the course of the judicial year, in…

The President shall designate, by order made in the first fortnight of January, the judge who is to deputise for him or her in the event of impediment as provided for in the second paragraph of Article L. 722-12.

Each chamber of the commercial court is presided over by the president of the court or by a chamber president appointed under the conditions laid down in the articles R. 722-14 and R. 722-16. The president of the commercial court may always preside over a chamber when he considers it appropriate.

The presidents of the chambers are chosen from among the judges who have held office in a commercial court for at least three years and are appointed each year within a fortnight of the installation of the newly elected judges by order of the president of the commercial court made after consulting the general meeting. This order may be amended during the course of the judicial year if the judges…

Each year, within a fortnight of the installation of the newly elected judges, the president of the court shall fix, by order made after consulting the general meeting, the table of judges of the commercial court. These are entered on the roll in the following order: 1° The president of the court; 2° The vice-president; 3° The chamber presidents; 4° The judges. The rank of the chamber presidents is determined…

Each year, within one month of the installation of the newly elected judges, the President of the Commercial Court shall, by order made after consulting the General Meeting, determine the allocation to the chambers and departments of the court of the chamber presidents and judges making up the court. This order specifies the number, date and nature of hearings. It may be amended in the same manner if one or…

A copy of the orders made by the president of the commercial court pursuant to articles R. 722-8 and R. 722-11 to R. 722-16 is sent to the heads of the court of appeal.

Commercial court judges wishing to resign their mandate shall send their resignation to the president of the commercial court, who shall forward it without delay to the prefect, the public prosecutor and the Minister of Justice. The resignation becomes final on the date on which the Prefect acknowledges receipt or, failing this, one month after a new resignation has been sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. .

Subject to the provisions of article R. 724-20, the presidents, vice-presidents, chamber presidents and judges of the commercial courts who have exercised these functions for at least fourteen years are authorised to avail themselves of the honorary status of the functions they have exercised.

Honorary judges of a commercial court may attend installation hearings and, in an advisory capacity, general meetings of that court. At hearings, general meetings and, where appropriate, public ceremonies, they may wear the robes worn by sitting judges.