LD Duesseldorf, September 2, 2024, Request To Allocate Another Technically Qualified Judge, UPC_CFI_368/2024

1. Key takeaways

No opportunity for parties to make suggestions on (technical) background of one of the judges allocated to the panel

Defendant's application for a review of the allocation of a technically qualified judge in order to allocate another technically qualified judge with experience in the field of mechanical engineering is dismissed.

The technically qualified judge is one of the judges of the panel as defined in Articles 19 and 20 UPCA (concerning the Court of First Instance) and the legal texts governing the UPC do not provide the opportunity for the parties to "make suggestion regarding (...) the technical or other relevant background" of one of the judges allocated to the panel, unlike in the case of the appointment of a court expert (R 185.2 RoP). The only ground on which a party may object to a judge taking part in the proceedings is provided for by the provisions of the Article 7.4 UPCA relating to partiality.