CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 23 novembre 1999

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s903B0117 { margin-top:0pt; margin-left:70.9pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:-70.9pt; text-align:justify } .sB54F21D0 { width:1.54pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .s988B4253 { width:1.1pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .sBF0FE613 { width:36pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .s4BC457A4 { margin-top:0pt; margin-left:106.35pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:-106.35pt; text-align:justify } .s9AFC8C3A { width:106.35pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .s38800F65 { width:3.95pt; display:inline-block } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic }       EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     579   23.11.99     Press release issued by the Registrar       HEARING IN THE CASE OF MOREL v. FRANCE   Tuesday 23 November 1999, at 2.30 p.m.     The applicant   The case concerns an application (no. 34130/96) brought by a French national, Hubert Morel, who was born in 1947 and lives in Villeneuve-la-Garenne (France). He is an engineer.   Summary of the facts   The case concerns the role of the bankruptcy judge at the Nanterre Commercial Court, first in judicial reorganisation proceedings and later in liquidation proceedings concerning companies owned by the applicant.   Complaints   The applicant complains, under Article 6 § 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, firstly that the bankruptcy judge was not impartial, on the ground that bankruptcy judges not only intervene during the period when a company is under observation during the judicial reorganisation phase but subsequently preside over the court dealing with liquidation proceedings, and secondly that the proceedings were unfair, on the ground that a bankruptcy judge’s report, which is submitted to the commercial court in liquidation proceedings, is not communicated to the parties.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 20 July 1996. It was transmitted to the European Court of Human Rights on 1 November 1998 and declared partly admissible on 6 July 1999.   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber composed as follows:   Nicolas Bratza (British), President , Jean-Paul Costa (French), Loukis Loucaides (Cypriot), Françoise Tulkens (Belgian), Willi Fuhrmann (Austrian), Karel Jungwiert (Czech), Kristaq Traja (Albanian), Judges , Pranas Kūris (Lithuanian), Hanne Sophie Greve (Norwegian), Mindia Ugrekhelidze (Georgian), Substitute Judges , and also Sally Dollé , Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:       Ronny Abraham , Agent , Michèle Dubrocard ,   Olivier Douvreleur , Counsel,   Applicant (present):   Michel Puechavy , Counsel .   ***   After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. Judgment will be delivered at a later date.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court.