Procedure
by UNArticle 39
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The official languages of the Court shall be French and English. If the parties agree that thecase shall be conducted in French, the judgment shall be delivered in French. If the parties agree that the case shall be conducted in English, the judgment shall be delivered in English.
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In the absence of an agreement as to which language shall be employed, each party may, in the pleadings, use the language which it prefers; the decision of the Court shall be given in French and English. In this case the Court shall at the same time determine which of the two texts shall be considered as authoritative.
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The Court shall, at the request of any party, authorize a language other than French or English to be used by that party.
Article 40
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Cases are brought before the Court, as the case may be, either by the notification of the special agreement or by a written application addressed to the Registrar. In either case the subject of the dispute and the parties shall be indicated.
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The Registrar shall forthwith communicate the application to all concerned.
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He shall also notify the Members of the United Nations through the Secretary-General, and also any other states entitled to appear before the Court.
Article 41
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The Court shall have the power to indicate, if it considers that circumstances so require, any provisional measures which ought to be taken to preserve the respective rights of either party.
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Pending the final decision, notice of the measures suggested shall forthwith be given to the parties and to the Security Council.
Article 42
- The parties shall be represented by agents.
- They may have the assistance of counsel or advocates before the Court.
- The agents, counsel, and advocates of parties before the Court shall enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary to the independent exercise of their duties.
Article 43
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The procedure shall consist of 2 parts: written and oral.
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The written proceedings shall consist of the communication to the Court and to the parties of memorials, counter-memorials and, if necessary, replies; also all papers and documents in support.
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These communications shall be made through the Registrar, in the order and within the time fixed by the Court.
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A certified copy of every document produced by one party shall be communicated to the other party.
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The oral proceedings shall consist of the hearing by the Court of witnesses, experts, agents, counsel, and advocates.
Article 44
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For the service of all notices upon persons other than the agents, counsel, and advocates, the Court shall apply direct to the government of the state upon whose territory the notice has to be served.
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The same provision shall apply whenever steps are to be taken to procure evidence on the spot.
Article 45
The hearing shall be under the control of the President or, if he is unable to preside, of the Vice- President; if neither is able to preside, the senior judge present shall preside.
Article 46
The hearing in Court shall be public, unless the Court shall decide otherwise, or unless the parties demand that the public be not admitted.
Article 47
- Minutes shall be made at each hearing and signed by the Registrar and the President.
- These minutes alone shall be authentic.
Article 48
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.
Article 49
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.
Article 50
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.
Article 51
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.
