Section 4: Judgment and minutes

The court clerk writes the judgment; the legal texts applied are indicated.

The minute of the judgment rendered after deliberation by the assize court and the minute of the judgments rendered by the court are signed by the president and the court clerk. All such judgments must mention the presence of the public prosecutor.

To record the completion of the prescribed formalities, the Registrar shall draw up minutes which shall be signed by the President and by the said Registrar. The minutes shall be drawn up and signed within three days at the latest of the delivery of the judgment.

Unless the president orders otherwise of his own motion or at the request of the public prosecutor or the parties, no mention shall be made in the minutes either of the replies of the accused or of the content of the depositions, without prejudice, however, to the execution of article 333 concerning additions, changes or variations in witness statements.

The minutes of the judgments handed down by the assize court are collected and deposited at the registry of the judicial court, the seat of the said court. However, the minutes of judgments handed down by the assize court of the department in which the court of appeal has its seat shall remain deposited at the registry of the said court.