Main Hearing
The main hearing is a continuous and oral procedure, where the case is handled in the following order:
At the beginning of the session, the judge briefly explains what has been concluded in the preparation of the case and inquires whether the claims presented in the preparation still correspond to the positions of the parties;
Initial conversation: parties take turns to shortly presents the grounds for their claims and give their statements regarding the grounds presented by the opposing party;
Receiving testimony: the written evidence is presented, and witnesses heard. The questioning of witnesses begins with the main hearing of the party who has named the person as witness. Subsequently, a cross-examination takes place, meaning that the counter-party presents questions to the witness. After the main hearing and the cross-examination, the parties may, if necessary, ask additional questions from the witness.
Closing arguments: in the closing arguments parties present their points of view on the evidence presented, their legal arguments and how they should be resolved.
In a simple case, the main hearing can be held immediately after the preparatory hearing. In complex cases, the main hearing is held at a date to be agreed. Often, an extended preparatory hearing is held immediately before the main hearing to ensure that the case is ready to proceed to the main hearing.
In the main hearing, no new arguments or evidence may be introduced that were not disclosed during the preparation, unless it can be assumed that there was a valid reason for not disclosing them. As a general rule, the judge who presided over the preparatory hearing presides over the main hearing and decides the case alone, but in some cases there may be three judges in the main hearing.