Subsection II: The judge hearing the case.

The judge responsible for hearing the case shall, where appropriate, organise exchanges between the parties appearing under the conditions and subject to the sanctions provided for in Article 446-2. He may dispense with a party’s attendance at a subsequent hearing under the conditions laid down in Article 861-1.

The judge hearing the case may hear the parties. He has the pre-trial powers provided for in Article 446-3.

The judge responsible for hearing the case shall establish that the parties have reached a settlement, even in part. He may also appoint a judicial conciliator under the conditions set out in article 860-2.

The judge in charge of hearing the case shall proceed with the joinder and severance of proceedings.

The judge in charge of investigating the case may order, even ex officio, any investigative measure. He decides on any difficulties relating to the communication of documents. He declares the proceedings terminated. In that event, it shall, if appropriate, rule on the costs and claims made pursuant to Article 700.

The measures taken by the judge hearing the case shall be the subject of a simple mention in the file: notice thereof shall be given to the parties. However, in the cases provided for in the previous article, the judge in charge of investigating the case shall rule by reasoned order, subject to the rules specific to investigative measures.

The orders of the judge hearing the case do not have the authority of res judicata in the main proceedings.

The orders of the judge hearing the case are not subject to appeal independently of the judgment on the merits. However, they may be appealed, either in the cases and under the conditions provided for in matters of expert appraisal, or within fifteen days of their date when they establish that the proceedings have been terminated. .

The judge in charge of investigating the case refers it to the court as soon as the state of the investigation allows.

At the request of the president of the panel, the judge in charge of hearing the case makes an oral report of the case at the hearing before the oral arguments. This report may also be made by the chairman of the panel or another judge of the panel designated by him. The report sets out the subject matter of the claim and the parties’ pleas in law, specifies the…