Paragraph 1: General provisions

The chairman presides over the proceedings. He gives the floor to the rapporteur in the event that a report is to be made. The plaintiff, then the defendant, are then invited to set out their claims. When the court considers itself enlightened, the president stops the pleadings or observations presented by the parties in their defence.

Even in cases where representation is compulsory the parties, assisted by their representative, may themselves make oral submissions. The court has the power to deprive them of the floor if passion or inexperience prevents them from discussing their case with proper decency or the necessary clarity.

The chairman and the judges may invite the parties to provide any explanations of law or fact that they consider necessary or to clarify anything that appears obscure.

The public prosecutor, as an added party, has the last word. If it considers that it cannot speak immediately, it may request that its hearing be postponed to a future hearing.

The chairman may order the reopening of the proceedings. He must do so whenever the parties have not been able to explain to each other the legal or factual clarifications which had been requested of them. In the event of a change in the composition of the court, the proceedings must be resumed.

After the close of the debates, the parties may not file any notes in support of their observations, except with a view to responding to the arguments developed by the public prosecutor, or at the request of the president in the cases provided for in articles 442 and 444.

What is prescribed by articles 432 (paragraph 2), 433,434,435 and 444 (paragraph 2) must be observed on pain of nullity. However, no nullity may subsequently be raised for failure to comply with these provisions if it was not raised before the close of the debates. Invalidity may not be raised ex officio.