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 * 1) Minutes shall be made at each hearing and signed by the Registrar and the President.
 * 2) These minutes alone shall be authentic.

The Court shall make orders for the conduct of the case, shall decide the form and time in which each party must conclude its arguments, and make all arrangements connected with the taking of evidence.

The Court may, even before the hearing begins, call upon the agents to produce any document or to supply any explanations. Formal note shall be taken of any refusal.

The Court may, at any time, entrust any individual, body, bureau, commission, or other organization that it may select, with the task of carrying out an enquiry or giving an expert opinion.

During the hearing any relevant questions are to be put to the witnesses and experts under the conditions laid down by the Court in the rules of procedure referred to in Article 30.

After the Court has received the proofs and evidence within the time specified for the purpose, it may refuse to accept any further oral or written evidence that one party may desire to present unless the other side consents.


 * 1) Whenever one of the parties does not appear before the Court, or fails to defend its case, the other party may call upon the Court to decide in favor of its claim.
 * 2) The Court must, before doing so, satisfy itself, not only that it has jurisdiction in accordance with Articles 36 and 37, but also that the claim is well founded in fact and law.


 * 1) When, subject to the control of the Court, the agents, counsel, and advocates have completed their presentation of the case, the President shall declare the hearing closed.
 * 2) The Court shall withdraw to consider the judgment. #The deliberations of the Court shall take place in private and remain secret.


 * 1) All questions shall be decided by a majority of the judges present.
 * 2) In the event of an equality of votes, the President or the judge who acts in his place shall have a casting vote.


 * 1) The judgment shall state the reasons on which it is based.
 * 2) It shall contain the names of the judges who have taken part in the decision.

If the judgment does not represent in whole or in part the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.

The judgment shall be signed by the President and by the Registrar. It shall be read in open court, due notice having heen given to the agents.

The decision of the Court has no binding force except between the parties and in respect of that particular case.