CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 25 juin 2003

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .s858CF1B6 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:11.5pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .sF8ED3D27 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center; font-size:11.5pt } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s5B9A51E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:left; font-size:11.5pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s61E420C2 { font-family:Arial; font-variant:small-caps } .s9E45D971 { margin-top:0pt; margin-left:85.05pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:-85.05pt; font-size:11.5pt } .s93593CA6 { width:18.58pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .sFBB292F3 { width:34.55pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .s804CF4A0 { width:3.67pt; display:inline-block } .s901C2590 { width:56.7pt; display:inline-block }   EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     347   25.6.2003   Press release issued by the Registrar   GRAND CHAMBER HEARING ON THE MERITS IN THE CASE OF MAESTRI v. ITALY   Wednesday 25 June 2003 at 9 a.m.   The applicant   The case concerns an application (no. 39748/98) brought by Angelo Massimo Maestri, an Italian national, who was born in 1944 and lives in Viareggio (Italy). He is a judge who was acting president of the La Spezia District Court when he lodged his application.   Summary of the facts   In November 1993, disciplinary proceedings were instituted against the applicant under Article 18 of the Royal Legislative Decree of 31 May 1946 for having been a member of the Grande Oriente d’Italia di Palazzo Giustiniani masonic order from 1981 until March 1993.   In a decision of 10 October 1995 the Disciplinary Section of the National Council of the Judiciary found the applicant guilty of the offence of which he was accused and gave him a warning ( censura ). It observed that it was contrary to disciplinary rules for a judge to be a member of the Freemasons, on account of the conflict between the oath sworn by Freemasons and that sworn by judges, the hierarchical relationship between Freemasons, the rejection of State justice in favour of Masonic justice, and the indissoluble nature of the bond between Freemasons.   The applicant appealed on points of law to the Court of Cassation, which found against him. He asserts that since the Disciplinary Section gave its decision his career has been at a standstill.   Complaints   The applicant complains that a disciplinary sanction was imposed on him on account of his membership of the Freemasons. He alleges a violation of Articles 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion), 10 (freedom of expression) and 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the European Convention on Human Rights.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 14   June 1997 and transmitted to the European Court of Human Rights on 1 November 1998. It was declared admissible on 4 July 2002.   On 10 October 2002 the Chamber relinquished jurisdiction in favour of the Grand Chamber, neither party having objected (Article 30 of the Convention and Rule 72 of the Rules of Court).   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by the Grand Chamber composed as follows:   Luzius Wildhaber (Swiss), President , Christos Rozakis (Greek), Jean-Paul Costa (French), Georg Ress (German), Nicolas Bratza (British), Gaukur Jörundsson (Icelandic), Giovanni Bonello (Maltese) Viera Strážnická (Slovakian) , Corneliu Bîrsan (Romanian) , Karel Jungwiert (Czech) , Marc Fischbach (Luxemburger) , Volodymyr Butkevych (Ukrainian) , John Hedigan (Irish) , Snejana Botoucharova (Bulgarian) , Elisabeth Steiner (Austrian) , Stanislav Pavlovschi (Moldovan), judges , Mariavaleria Del Tufo (Italian) , ad hoc judge , Boštjan Zupančič (Slovenian) , Loukis Loucaides (Cypriot) , substitute judges , and also Paul Mahoney , Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Francesco Crisafulli , co-Agent ;   Applicant:   Antonio Fusillo , 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: +00 33 (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Joanna Reynell (telephone: +00 33 (0)3 90 21 42 15)   Stéphanie Klein (telephone: +00 33 (0)3 88 41 21 54) Fax: +00 33 (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.