Part First: Session Procedures

Article 483

1. The date of the hearing shall be notified to the parties at least three days prior to its commencement.

Article 484

1. Court hearings shall be public, under penalty of nullity, unless the court, on its own initiative or at the request of one of the parties, decides to hold them in secret in order to maintain public order, preserve morals, or protect family privacy; however, the judgment shall be read out in this case.

Article 485

The hearing is held in the deliberation room in non-public session. The court considers in the deliberation room petitions and also judicial matters specifically designated in the law.

Article 486

It is not permissible to publish in newspapers the proceedings of the trial in defamation cases and what is prohibited from publication pursuant to Article 420 of the Penal Code and pursuant to the provisions of the Press Law.

Article 487

The parties are called at the time fixed for the hearing by a process server. If the defendant appears in person or through his lawyer in a matter not subject to exchange of memoranda according to Article 459, he may request its postponement to a later hearing.

Article 488

The President shall authorize the plaintiff or his representative to speak first, then authorize the defendant or his representative to speak, and finally the interveners. In all cases, the last word shall remain with the defendant, subject to the provisions of Article 480.

Article 489

If, prior to the conclusion of the trial, the composition of the court changes in its entirety or in part, it is mandatory that the debates be repeated before the new composition.

Article 490

The parties may request the court in any state of the suit to record in the proceedings what they have agreed upon and signed by them or their representatives. If they had written down what they agreed upon, the written agreement shall be attached to the proceedings and established in the record.

Article 491

1. The clerk shall draw up a record for each hearing, which shall be signed by him and the president at the end of each session, and shall include the time of commencement and adjournment of the session, the name or names of the judge or judges, the names of the parties and their attorneys, the incidents that occurred, and the statements that the president orders him to record. 2. The record of the hearing is an official document, and its falsification shall be considered as falsification of official documents.