The Grand Chamber
 

Composition of the Grand Chamber

The Grand Chamber is made up of 17 judges : the Court’s President and Vice-Presidents, the Section Presidents and the national judge, together with other judges selected by drawing of lots.

When does the Grand Chamber hear a case?

The initiation of proceedings before the Grand Chamber takes two different forms: referral and relinquishment.

After a Chamber judgment has been delivered, the parties may request referral of the case to the Grand Chamber and such requests are accepted on an exceptional basis. A panel of judges of the Grand Chamber decides whether or not the case should be referred to the Grand Chamber for fresh consideration.

Practice of the Grand Chamber panel

Cases are also sent to the Grand Chamber when relinquished by a Chamber, although this is also exceptional. The Chamber to which a case is assigned can relinquish it to the Grand Chamber if the case raises a serious question affecting the interpretation of the Convention or if there is a risk of inconsistency with a previous judgment of the Court.

More information about Grand Chamber

More information

Cases pending before the Grand Chamber

Practice of the Grand Chamber panel

List of Grand Chamber judgments, advisory opinions and decisions 

List of Grand Chamber judgments since 2010