BERNARD JUDGMENT OF 23 APRIL 1998 2 2. In response to the enquiry made in accordance with Rule 33 § 3 (d) of Rules of Court A, the applicant stated that he wished to take part in the proceedings and designated the lawyer who would represent him (Rule 30). 3. The Chamber to be constituted included ex officio Mr L.-E. Pettiti, the elected judge of French nationality (Article 43 of the Convention), and Mr R. Ryssdal, the President of the Court (Rule 21 § 4 (b)). On 20 January 1997, in the presence of the Registrar, the President drew by lot the names of the other seven members, namely Mr F. Gölcüklü, Mr F. Matscher, Mr R. Macdonald, Mrs E. Palm, Mr G. Mifsud Bonnici, Mr P. Jambrek and Mr U. Lōhmus (Article 43 in fine of the Convention and Rule 21 § 5). 4. As President of the Chamber (Rule 21 § 6), Mr Ryssdal, acting through the Registrar, consulted the Agent of the French Government (“the Government”), the applicant’s lawyer and the Delegate of the Commission on the organisation of the proceedings (Rules 37 § 1 and 38). Pursuant to the order made in consequence, the Registrar received the applicant’s and the Government’s memorials on 28 and 31 October 1997 respectively. 5. On 10 December 1997 the Commission produced the file on the proceedings before it, as requested by the Registrar on the President’s instructions. 6. On 7 January 1998 Mr R. Bernhardt, the Vice-President of the Court, replaced as President of the Chamber Mr Ryssdal, who was unable to take part in the further consideration of the case (Rule 21 § 6). 7. On 26 January 1998 the applicant’s counsel filed documents at the registry. 8. In accordance with Mr Ryssdal’s decision of 15 May 1997, the hearing took place in public in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on 28 January 1998. The Court had held a preparatory meeting beforehand. There appeared before the Court: (a) for the Government Mr J.-F. DOBELLE, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs M. DUBROCARD, magistrat, on secondment to the Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr A. BUCHET, Head of the Human Rights Office, European and International Affairs Department, Ministry of Justice, Mr B. DALLES, magistrat, Criminal Justice and Individual Freedoms Office, Criminal Cases and Pardons Department, Ministry of Justice, Agent, Advisers;