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Microsoft - EC case may get new judge

Judge Legal for the high jump

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Software & Security, 20th June 2005 11:35 GMT

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A senior European judge has suggested changing the court currently considering the Microsoft hearings.

According to a letter sent to all parties involved in the case Judge Bo Vesterdorf wants the case moved from the Court of First Instance to the Grand Chamber. There evidence will be heard by a larger panel of judges chaired by Vesterdorf. The case is currently being heard by the brilliantly-named Judge Hubert Legal and four other judges.

The changes follow controversy sparked by an article in French magazine Concurrences written by Judge Legal. In the article he described judges' clerks as "ayatollahs of free enterprise" and suggested they can play a more prominent role in cases than judges. His comments upset both clerks and judges.

All 25 judges in the court will meet to vote on the proposal once feedback is received from interested parties, according to Reuters which got hold of the letter.

Microsoft is appealing a March ruling which imposed €497m fine on the firm and ordered it to change its business practises.

More details on Reuters here.®

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