Chapter I: Ordinary procedure

The Pre-Trial Judge may declare that the parties have conciliated, even partially. The Pre-Trial Judge may appoint a mediator under the conditions of Article 131-1. He shall, at the request of the parties, homologate the agreement that they submit to him. The Pre-Trial Judge may also decide that the parties shall be summoned to an amicable settlement hearing in accordance with the procedures set out in articles 774-1 to 774-4.

The pre-trial judge may invite the parties to call all interested parties whose presence he deems necessary for the resolution of the dispute.

The pre-trial judge declares the proceedings terminated.

The Pre-Trial Judge shall exercise all powers necessary for the communication, obtaining and production of documents.

Where the application is made after his appointment, the Pre-Trial Judge shall, until he relinquishes jurisdiction, have sole jurisdiction, to the exclusion of any other formation of the court, to: 1° Rule on procedural objections, applications made pursuant to Article 47 and incidents putting an end to the proceedings; The parties are no longer entitled to raise these exceptions and incidents at a later date unless they arise or are…

The Pre-Trial Judge may rule on costs and claims made pursuant to Article 700.

The Pre-Trial Judge shall be seised by submissions specially addressed to him which are distinct from submissions within the meaning of Article 768, subject to the provisions of Article 1117.

The measures taken by the Pre-Trial Judge are simply mentioned in the file; notice is given to the lawyers. However, in the cases provided for in articles 787 to 790, the Pre-Trial Judge shall rule by reasoned order, subject to the rules specific to investigative measures.

The order is made, immediately if necessary, after the lawyers have been heard or called. The lawyers are summoned to the hearing by the Pre-Trial Judge. The lawyers are summoned to the hearing by the Pre-Trial Judge. In urgent cases, one party may, by notification between lawyers, invite the other to appear before the judge on the day, time and place fixed by the judge.

The orders of the pre-trial judge do not have the authority of res judicata in the main proceedings, with the exception of those ruling on procedural objections, on pleas in bar, on incidents putting an end to the proceedings and on the substantive issue decided pursuant to the provisions of 6° of Article 789.