Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
PART 6.
THE TRIAL
Article 62
Place of trial
Unless otherwise decided, the place of the trial shall be the seat of the Court.
Article 63
Trial in the presence of the accused
1.
The accused shall be present during the trial.
2.
If the accused, being present before the Court, continues to disrupt the trial, the Trial Chamber may remove
the accused and shall make provision for him or her to observe the trial and instruct counsel from outside
the courtroom, through the use of communications technology, if required. Such measures shall be taken
only in exceptional circumstances after other reasonable alternatives have proved inadequate, and only for
such duration as is strictly required.
Article 64
Functions and powers of the Trial Chamber
1.
The functions and powers of the Trial Chamber set out in this article shall be exercised in accordance with
this Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
2.
The Trial Chamber shall ensure that a trial is fair and expeditious and is conducted with full respect for the
rights of the accused and due regard for the protection of victims and witnesses.
3.
Upon assignment of a case for trial in accordance with this Statute, the Trial Chamber assigned to deal with
the case shall:
(a)
Confer with the parties and adopt such procedures as are necessary to facilitate the fair and
expeditious conduct of the proceedings;
(b)
Determine the language or languages to be used at trial; and
(c)
Subject to any other relevant provisions of this Statute, provide for disclosure of documents or
information not previously disclosed, sufficiently in advance of the commencement of the trial to
enable adequate preparation for trial.
4.
The Trial Chamber may, if necessary for its effective and fair functioning, refer preliminary issues to the PreTrial Chamber or, if necessary, to another available judge of the Pre-Trial Division.
5.
Upon notice to the parties, the Trial Chamber may, as appropriate, direct that there be joinder or severance
in respect of charges against more than one accused.
6.
In performing its functions prior to trial or during the course of a trial, the Trial Chamber may, as necessary:
(a)
Exercise any functions of the Pre-Trial Chamber referred to in article 61, paragraph 11;
(b)
Require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of documents and other evidence
by obtaining, if necessary, the assistance of States as provided in this Statute;
(c)
Provide for the protection of confidential information;
(d)
Order the production of evidence in addition to that already collected prior to the trial or presented
during the trial by the parties;
(e)
Provide for the protection of the accused, witnesses and victims; and
(f)
Rule on any other relevant matters.
7.
The trial shall be held in public. The Trial Chamber may, however, determine that special circumstances
require that certain proceedings be in closed session for the purposes set forth in article 68, or to protect
confidential or sensitive information to be given in evidence.
8.
(a)
At the commencement of the trial, the Trial Chamber shall have read to the accused the charges
previously confirmed by the Pre-Trial Chamber. The Trial Chamber shall satisfy itself that the accused
understands the nature of the charges. It shall afford him or her the opportunity to make an admission
of guilt in accordance with article 65 or to plead not guilty.
31