Court Organization Act Article 51-8

When adjudicating legal disputes, the Civil Grand Chamber or the Criminal Grand Chamber, should conduct the oral arguments.The parties, other than the prosecutor, shall retain a lawyer as the agent or defense attorney to perform oral arguments, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 474 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis to the hiring of agents ad litem for civil cases. If the accused in a criminal case has not retained a defense attorney, the presiding judge shall appoint a public defender or attorney to perform oral arguments for the accused.On the date of oral arguments, as referred to in the first paragraph, if the appellee of a civil case has not retained an agent ad litem, or the agent ad litem of one of the parties is not present, adjudication shall be decided after the agent ad litem of the other party makes their statements. If the agents ad litem of both parties are not present, the oral arguments will not be conducted. This provision applies when the defense attorney of the accused, in a criminal case, is not present, or private prosecutor of one of the parties is, or both parties, are not present.When the Civil Grand Chamber or the Criminal Grand Chamber, deems it necessary, the court may ex officio, or on a motion by the parties, their agents, or defense attorneys, select experts or scholars of specific professional legal issues to present their legal opinions in writing, or make statements during oral arguments.The persons who present statements, as described in the preceding paragraph, shall disclose the following information:1. Whether or not, during the preparation or submission of relevant professional opinions or information, they had a delegation or cooperation relationship with the parties, interested parties, or their agents, or defense attorneys.2. Whether or not, during the preparation or submission of relevant professional opinions or information, they have received monetary remuneration, or assistance, or its equivalent price or value, from the parties, interested parties, or their agents, or defense attorneys.3. The identities of other people who provided monetary remuneration or assistance, and its price or value.