Article 15Each high court is composed of a president and the appropriate number of judges.

Article 16A high court has jurisdiction over the following matters:

Article 17Beyond what is provided for in this Act, a high court has powers that are specially provided for by other laws.

Article 18(1)A high court handles cases through a panel of judges; provided, however, that with the exception of proceedings and judgments that are required to take place through the courts, if any other law makes special provisions regarding another matter, those provisions apply.

(2)There are three judges on a panel as referred to in the preceding paragraph, one of whom is the presiding judge; provided, however, that there are five judges on such a panel in the criminal proceedings referred to in Article 16, item (iv).

Article 19(1)A high court may have a judge of a district or family court within its jurisdictional district serve as a judge of the high court if this is urgently necessary for handling the functions of the court.

(2)If there are special circumstances due to which the urgent need of the high court cannot be met pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Supreme Court may have a judge of another high court, or a judge of a district court or family court within the district over which another high court has jurisdiction, serve as a judge of the first-mentioned high court.

Article 20(1)A high court is to carry out the functions involved in judicial administration, through deliberations of the judicial assembly; the president of the high court coordinates this.

(2)The judicial assembly of a high court is comprised of all of the judges belonging to the high court, and the president of the high court is its chairperson.

Article 21A secretariat is hereby established in each high court to handle its administrative affairs.

Article 22(1)The Supreme Court may establish branches of a high court within the jurisdictional district of the high court, to handle a part of the functions of the high court.

(2)The Supreme Court designates judges to serve at the branches of a high court.

Article 23Each district court is composed of an appropriate number of judges and assistant judges.

Article 24A district court has jurisdiction over the following matters:

Article 25Beyond what is provided for in this Act, a district court has powers specially provided for by other laws, and also has powers over any matter that is provided for by other laws as falling under the jurisdiction of the courts, but that does not fall under the jurisdiction of another court.

Article 26(1)A district court handles cases through a single judge, except for the cases prescribed in paragraph (2).

(2)The following cases are handled by a panel of judges; provided, however, that with the exception of proceedings and judgments that are required to take place through the courts, if any other law makes special provisions regarding another matter, those provisions apply:

(3)There are three judges on a panel as referred to in the preceding paragraph, one of whom is the presiding judge.

Article 27(1)An assistant judge may not reach a judicial decision alone unless otherwise specially provided for by other laws.

(2)Two or more assistant judges may not participate in a single panel at the same time; an assistant judge may not serve as the presiding judge.

Article 28(1)If it is urgently necessary to do so for handling the functions of a district court, the high court with jurisdiction over the locality of that district court may have a judge of another district court or family court within the high court's jurisdictional district, or a judge of the high court, perform the duties of a judge of that district court.

(2)If there are special circumstances due to which the urgent need of a district court cannot be met pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Supreme Court may have a judge of a district or family court from within the jurisdictional district of a high court other than the high court that has jurisdiction over the locality of the first-mentioned district court, or a judge of such a high court, perform the duties of a judge of the district court in question.

Article 29(1)The Supreme Court appoints one judge from a district court as the president of the district court.

(2)A district court is to carry out the functions involved in judicial administration through deliberations of the judicial assembly; the president of the district court coordinates this.

(3)The judicial assembly of a district court is comprised of all of the judges of the district court, and the president of the district court is its chairperson.

Article 30A secretariat is hereby established in each district court to handle its administrative affairs.

Article 31(1)The Supreme Court may establish branches and local offices of a district court within the jurisdiction of the district court, to handle a part of the functions of the district court.

(2)The Supreme Court designates judges to serve at the branches of a district court.

Article 31-2Each family court is composed of an appropriate number of judges and assistant judges.

Article 31-3(1)A family court has power over the following matters:

(2)Beyond what is provided for in this Act, a family court has powers specially provided for by other laws.

Article 31-4(1)When conducting a trial or reaching a judicial decision, a family court handles cases through a single judge, except for the cases prescribed in the following paragraph.

(2)The cases set forth in the following items are handled by a panel of judges; provided, however, that with the exception of rulings that close a trial and of proceedings and judgments that are required to take place through the courts, if any other law makes special provisions regarding another matter, those provisions apply:

(3)There are three judges on a panel as referred to in the preceding paragraph, one of whom is the presiding judge.

Article 31-5The provisions of Articles 27 through 31 apply mutatis mutandis to family courts.

Article 32An appropriate number of summary court judges are assigned to each summary court.

Article 33(1)A summary court has first instance jurisdiction over the following matters:

(2)A summary court may not impose imprisonment or a heavier sentence; provided, however, that a summary court may impose imprisonment for a period of not more than three years in cases involving the crimes set forth in Article 130 of the Criminal Code or attempts at those crimes, crimes set forth in Article 186 of that Code, crimes set forth in Article 235 of that Code or attempts at those crimes, crimes set forth in Article 252, Article 254, and Article 256 of that Code, crimes set forth in Articles 31 through 33 of the Secondhand Articles Dealer Act (Act No. 108 of 1949), and crimes set forth in Articles 30 through 32 of the Pawnbroker Business Act (Act No. 158 of 1950), and in cases in which, pursuant to the provisions of Article 54, paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, the sentences for these crimes are to be imposed for those crimes and other crimes together.

(3)If a summary court finds that it is appropriate to impose a sentence that is more severe than the limits referred to in the preceding paragraph, it must transfer the case to a district court pursuant to the provisions of procedural laws.

Article 34Beyond what is provided for in this Act, a summary court has powers specially provided for by other laws.

Article 35A summary court handles cases through a single judge.

Article 36(1)If it is urgently necessary to do so for handling the functions of a summary court, the district court with jurisdiction over the locality of the summary court may have a judge of another summary court within the district court's jurisdictional district, or a judge of that district court, perform the duties of a judge of that summary court.

(2)If there are special circumstances due to which the urgent need of the summary court cannot be met pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the high court with jurisdiction over the locality of the summary court may have a judge other than as provided for in that paragraph who belongs to a summary or district court within the high court's jurisdictional district perform the duties of a judge of the summary court in question.

Article 37If a summary court consists of one judge, that judge is responsible for handling the functions involved in judicial administration; if there are two or more judges, the one judge designated by the Supreme Court is responsible for handling them.

Article 38If there are special circumstances due to which the functions of a summary court cannot be handled at that summary court, the district court with jurisdiction over its locality may have another summary court within its jurisdictional district handle all or part of those functions.

Article 39(1)The Emperor appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as designated by the Cabinet.

(2)Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the Cabinet.

(3)The Emperor approves the appointment and dismissal of Supreme Court Justices.

(4)The appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and of Supreme Court Justices is reviewed by the people pursuant to laws concerning national referendums.

Article 40(1)The Cabinet appoints presidents of high courts, judges, assistant judges, and summary court judges from a list of persons nominated by the Supreme Court.

(2)The Emperor approves the appointment and dismissal of presidents of high courts.

(3)For the judges referred to in paragraph (1), the term of office is to end once 10 years have passed following their appointment; such a judge may be reappointed.

Article 41(1)Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed from among persons with deep insight and extensive knowledge of the law, who are not less than 40 years of age; at least ten of them must be persons who have held either one or both of the positions set forth in item (i) or (ii) for 10 years or more, or who have held one or more of any of the positions set forth in the following items for a total period of 20 years or more:

(2)To apply the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if a person has held one or both of the positions referred to in item (i) or (ii) of the preceding paragraph for not less than five years, or one or more of the positions referred to in items (i) through (vi) of the preceding paragraph for not less than 10 years, and has also held the position of assistant judge, judicial research official, Secretary General of the Supreme Court, court administrative official, Legal Training and Research Institute Professor, professor at the Training and Research Institute for Court Officials (hereinafter referred to as "TRICO Professor"), Administrative Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Justice, administrative official of the Ministry of Justice, or instructor at a correctional facility, that position also held is deemed to be one of those referred to in items (iii) through (vi) of the preceding paragraph.

(3)To apply the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the period of service in the positions listed in paragraph (1), items (iii) through (v) and in the preceding paragraph is counted only from the completion of training as a legal apprentice.

(4)If a person has held a position as a professor of law or associate professor of law at a university referred to in paragraph (1), item (vi) for three years or more, and also has held a position as a summary court judge, public prosecutor (excluding an assistant prosecutor), or attorney-at-law, the provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply with respect to the period of service in the latter position.

Article 42(1)The presidents of high courts and judges are appointed from among persons who have held one or more of the following positions for a total period of 10 years or longer:

(2)To apply the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if a person has held one or more of the positions referred to in the items of the paragraph for more than three years, and has also held a position as a court administrative official, administrative official of the Ministry of Justice, or instructor at a correctional facility, the position also held is deemed to be a position as set forth in the items of that paragraph.

(3)To apply the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the period of service in the positions set forth in paragraph (1), items (ii) through (v) and in the preceding paragraph is counted only from the completion of training as a legal apprentice.

(4)If a person held a position as a professor of law or associate professor of law at a university referred to in paragraph (1), item (vi) of the preceding Article for three years or more, and then served as a summary court judge, public prosecutor (excluding an assistant prosecutor), or attorney-at-law, the provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply to the period of the service in the latter profession; if a person has been appointed as a summary court judge or a public prosecutor without having completed the training as a legal apprentice, the same applies to the person's period of service as summary court judge, public prosecutor (excluding an assistant prosecutor), or attorney-at-law after the person passed the examination referred to in Article 66.

Article 43Assistant judges are appointed from those who have completed the training as legal apprentices.

Article 44(1)Summary court judges are appointed from among persons who have been the president of a high court or a judge, or who have held one or more of the positions referred to in the following items for a total period of three years or more:

(2)To apply the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the period of service in the positions listed in items (ii) through (iv) of the paragraph is counted only from the completion of the training as a legal apprentice.

(3)If a person has been appointed as a public prosecutor without having completed the training as a legal apprentice, the provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply to the person's period of service as a public prosecutor (excluding an assistant prosecutor) or attorney-at-law after the person passed the examination referred to in Article 66.

Article 45(1)A person who has been engaged in judicial affairs for many years, or who otherwise possesses the knowledge and experience necessary for performing the duties of a summary court judge may be appointed as a summary court judge by the selection committee for summary court judges through the selection process even if they do not fall within the categories prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(2)Rules and regulations relating to the selection committee for summary court judges are prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Article 46In addition to those persons who are ineligible for appointment as ordinary government officials pursuant to the provisions of other laws, a person who falls under any of the following items may not be appointed as a judge:

Article 47Judges of lower courts are appointed to positions by the Supreme Court.

Article 48A judge is not to be dismissed, transferred, or suspended from duty, and the salary of the judge is not to be reduced against their will, unless this is done in accordance with the provisions of laws concerning public impeachment or national referendums, or unless the judge is declared mentally or physically incompetent to perform their duties by judicial decision as separately provided by law.

Article 49If a judge breaches a professional obligation, neglects their duties, or behaves disgracefully, the judge is subject to disciplinary action by judicial decision, as separately provided by law.

Article 50Judges of the Supreme Court retire upon reaching 70 years of age; judges of a high court, district court, or family court retire upon reaching 65 years of age; summary court judges retire upon reaching 70 years of age.

Article 51The compensation received by judges is provided for separately by law.

Article 52Judges may not engage in any of the following acts while in office:

Article 53(1)One Secretary General of the Supreme Court is assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)The Secretary General of the Supreme Court, under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is responsible for handling the functions of the General Secretariat of the Supreme Court, and directs and supervises secretariat officials.

Article 54(1)One secretary to the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court and fourteen secretaries to the Supreme Court Judges are assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)The secretary to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and secretaries to Justices of the Supreme Court handle confidential functions, as ordered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the justices of the Supreme Court, respectively.

Article 55(1)Legal Training and Research Institute Professors are assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)Legal Training and Research Institute Professors, under the direction of their supervisors, take charge of guiding research and training for judges in the Legal Training and Research Institute and education for legal apprentices.

Article 56(1)A President of the Legal Training and Research Institute, who is appointed to the position by the Supreme Court from among Legal Training and Research Institute Professors, is assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)The President of the Legal Training and Research Institute, under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is responsible for handling the functions of the institute, and directs and supervises the institute officials.

Article 56-2(1)TRICO Professors are assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)TRICO Professors, under the direction of their supervisors, take charge of guiding the institute's research and training for court officials other than judges, including for court clerks and family court investigating officers.

Article 56-3(1)A President of the Training and Research Institute for Court Officials, who is appointed to the position by the Supreme Court from among TRICO Professors, is assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)The President of the Training and Research Institute for Court Officials, under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is responsible for handling the functions of the Training and Research Institute for Court Officials, and directs and supervises the institute officials.

Article 56-4(1)A Director of the Supreme Court Library, who is appointed from among court officials, is assigned to the Supreme Court.

(2)The Director of the Supreme Court Library, under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is responsible for handling the functions of the Supreme Court Library, and directs and supervises the library officials.

(3)The provisions referred to in the preceding two paragraphs do not preclude the application of the provisions of the National Diet Library Act.

Article 56-5(1)One secretary to the president of the high court is assigned to each high court.

(2)The secretary to a president of a high court takes charge of confidential functions, as ordered by the presidents of the high court.

Article 57(1)Judicial research officials are assigned to the Supreme Court, each high court, and each district court.

(2)Judicial research officials take charge of the research necessary for proceedings and for deciding cases (limited to cases concerning intellectual property or tax in a district court), and other duties provided for by other laws, as ordered by judges.

Article 58(1)Court administrative officials are assigned to each court.

(2)Court administrative officials handle the functions of the court, as ordered by their superiors.

Article 59(1)A director-general of the secretariat, who is appointed to the position by the Supreme Court from among court administrative officials, is assigned to each high court, district court, and family court.

(2)The director-general of secretariat of a high court, district court, or family court is responsible for handling the functions of the secretariat, and directs and supervises its officials, under the supervision of the president of the respective high court, district court, or family court.

Article 60(1)Court clerks are assigned to each court.

(2)A court clerk prepares and keeps records and other documents concerning cases of the court, and carrying out other functions as provided for by other laws.

(3)In addition to carrying out the functions referred to in the preceding paragraph, a court clerk assists the judges in researching laws, regulations and judicial precedents, as well as other necessary matters, as ordered by the judges, in relation to the cases of the court.

(4)In performing duties, a court clerk complies with judges' orders.

(5)If a court clerk receives an order from a judge with respect to the transcript of an oral statement or the preparation or alteration of other documents, and the court clerk finds that the preparation or alteration is not justifiable, the clerk may attach their own opinion in writing.

Article 60-2(1)Court stenographers are assigned to each court.

(2)A court stenographer takes shorthand notes concerning the cases of the court, and carries out functions related thereto.

(3)In performing duties, a court stenographer complies with judges' orders.

Article 61(1)Technical officials are assigned to each court.

(2)A technical official of a court handles technical matters, as ordered by the official's superior.

Article 61-2(1)Family court investigating officers are assigned to each family court and high court.

(2)At the family court, a family court investigating officer conducts the necessary investigations for the adjudication and conciliation referred to in Article 31-3, paragraph (1), item (i), for the judicial decisions referred to in item (ii) of the same paragraph (limited to judicial decisions related to the incidental dispositions referred to in Article 32, paragraph (1) of the Personal Status Litigation Act and judicial decisions on designation of persons with parental authority referred to in paragraph (3) of the same Article (hereinafter referred to as "judicial decision on incidental dispositions" in this paragraph)), and for the trials and decisions referred to in Article 31-3, paragraph (1), item (iii), and handles any other functions prescribed by other laws; and at the high court, a family court investigator conducts the necessary investigations for the proceedings for appeals against the decisions referred to in item (i) of the same paragraph, and for the proceedings of an appeal trial at the court of second instance on a judicial decision on incidental dispositions, and handles any other functions prescribed by other laws.

(3)The Supreme Court may appoint from among family court investigating officers a Chief Family Court Investigating Officer, who is assigned the duty of supervising investigation functions and functions such as liaison and coordination with the relevant administrative organs and other organizations.

(4)In performing duties, a family court investigating officer complies with judges' orders.

Article 61-3(1)Assistant family court investigating officers are assigned to each family court.

(2)An assistant family court investigating officer helps family court investigating officers perform their functions, as ordered by their superiors.

Article 62(1)Court execution officers are assigned to each district court.

(2)Qualifications necessary for appointment as a court execution officer are prescribed by the Supreme Court.

(3)A court execution officer enforces judicial decisions, serves documents issued by the court, and carries out other functions as provided for by other laws.

(4)A court execution officer receives a commission. If the commission does not amount to a certain sum, the officer receives a subsidy from the national treasury.

Article 63(1)Bailiffs are assigned to each court.

(2)A bailiff conducts court duties as ordered by judges and other functions as determined by the Supreme Court.

(3)If a court is unable to use a court execution officer, it may use a bailiff for the service of documents in the locality of the court.

Article 64The appointment and dismissal of court officials other than judges are done by the Supreme Court, a high court, a district court, or a family court as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Article 65The courts where judicial research officials, court administrative officials(except director-general of secretariats), court clerks, court stenographers, family court investigating officers, assistant family court investigating officers, court execution officers, and technical officials of the court are to work are designated by the Supreme Court, a high court, a district court, or a family court as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Article 65-2Beyond what is provided for by this Act, matters concerning court officials other than judges are provided for separately by law.

Article 66(1)Legal apprentices are appointed by the Supreme Court from among persons who have passed the bar examination (for persons who have passed the bar examination after having taken it pursuant to the provisions of Article 4, paragraph (2) of the Bar Examination Act (Act No. 140 of 1949), this is limited to those who have completed a course of study at a graduate school of law (meaning a professional graduate school as prescribed in Article 99, paragraph (2) of the School Education Act (Act No. 26 of 1947), the purpose of which is to cultivate the learning and abilities necessary for the legal profession) on or after April 1 of the year in which it is announced that they have passed the bar examination).

(2)Matters concerning the examination referred to in the preceding paragraph are provided for separately by law.

Article 67(1)Legal apprentices complete their courses upon passing an examination at the end of at least one year of training.

(2)During their term of training, legal apprentices must devote themselves to their training as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

(3)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, matters concerning the training and examination referred to in paragraph (1) are prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Article 67-2(1)Legal apprentices receive a training benefit for the period prescribed by the Supreme Court as the period normally required for training.

(2)The types of training benefit are a basic benefit, housing benefit, and transfer benefit.

(3)The amount of the basic benefit comprises the expenses necessary for legal apprentices' cost of living during the training period, and is prescribed by the Supreme Court, taking into account their current situation and the fact that the legal apprentices must devote themselves to their training.

(4)A housing benefit is paid if a legal apprentice is personally paying rent (including usage fees; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) for rented housing (including a rented room; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) for the legal apprentice to live in (unless the apprentice's spouse owns the housing, or in other cases prescribed by the Supreme Court), and that amount is an amount prescribed by the Supreme Court within the scope of the expenses normally required for rent.

(5)If it is found necessary for a legal apprentice to change addresses or residences for the training, a transfer benefit is paid for the transfer, and the amount is an amount prescribed by the Supreme Court based on the distance of the transfer.

(6)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the necessary matters relating to the payment of the training benefit are prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Article 67-3(1)At the application of a legal apprentice, the Supreme Court is to lend the legal apprentice funds to enable them to concentrate on their training (meaning funds to ensure that a legal apprentice will be able to concentrate on their training, and which are still necessary even after payment of the training benefit; hereinafter the same applies in this Article), interest free, for a period prescribed by the Supreme Court as the period normally required for the training of legal apprentices.

(2)The amount of funds to enable apprentices to concentrate on their training and the due date for repayment are prescribed by the Supreme Court.

(3)If it becomes difficult for a person who has been lent funds to enable them to concentrate on their training to repay the funds due to a disaster, injury, illness or other unavoidable reasons, or if there are grounds as prescribed by the Supreme Court as those that make it financially difficult for such a person to repay the funds, the due date for repayment may be extended. In this case, the provisions of Article 26 of the Act on Management of the Claims Held by the State (Act No. 114 of 1956) do not apply.

(4)If a person who has been lent funds to enable them to concentrate on their training is no longer able to return the funds due to death or a mental or physical disability, the Supreme Court may waive the repayment of all or part of the funds.

(5)Beyond what is provided for in each of the preceding paragraphs, the Supreme Court prescribes the necessary matters connected with the lending and repayment of funds to enable legal apprentices to concentrate on their training.

Article 68(1)If the Supreme Court finds there to be grounds involving a legal apprentice which the Supreme Court prescribes as grounds that make it difficult for a person to continue with their apprenticeship, such as poor grades or a mental or physical disorder, the Supreme Court may dismiss the legal apprentice as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

(2)If the Supreme Court finds there to be grounds involving a legal apprentice which the Supreme Court prescribes as grounds constituting misconduct that renders a person inappropriate as a legal apprentice, such as disgraceful behavior, the Supreme Court may dismiss the legal apprentice, order the suspension of the training, or issue an admonition as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Article 69(1)Court sessions are held at courts or branches.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if the Supreme Court finds it necessary, it may hold sessions of court at another place, and may have a lower court hold sessions at another place that it designates.

Article 70In order to conduct a trial privately pursuant to the provisions of Article 82, paragraph (2) of the Constitution of Japan, a court must make a statement to that effect and also give the reason therefore, before ordering the public to leave the court. Before delivering a judgment, the court must allow the public to be admitted entry into the court again.

Article 71(1)The presiding judge or a single judge who opens a session maintains order in the court.

(2)The presiding judge or a single judge who opens a session may order any person who interferes with the exercise of the duties of the court or who behaves improperly, to leave the court, or may issue other orders or take measures as necessary for the maintenance of order in the court.

Article 71-2(1)On finding it to be necessary to do so to maintain order in the court, the presiding judge or a single judge who opens a session may request the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Commissioner or the chief of the relevant prefectural police to dispatch police officers. On finding it to be especially necessary to do so to maintain order in the court, that judge may make the request prior to the opening of the session.

(2)The police officers who are dispatched at the request referred to in the preceding paragraph are directed by the presiding judge or a single judge in order to maintain order during the judicial procedure.

Article 72(1)When the court exercises its duties outside the court room in accordance with the provisions of other laws, the presiding judge or a single judge may order any person who interferes with the exercise of the duties of the court to leave the place where the court is exercising its duties, and may issue other necessary orders and take other necessary measures.

(2)The provisions of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the case referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(3)The authority of the presiding judge set forth in the preceding two paragraphs is conferred upon a judge when the judge exercises duties outside the court room in accordance with the provisions of other laws.

Article 73A person who, in violation of an order referred to in Article 71 or the preceding Article, interferes with the exercise of the duties of a court or of a judge is subject to imprisonment with or without work for a term of not more than one year or to a fine of not more than 1000 yen.

Article 74Japanese is the language used in court.

Article 75(1)Deliberations of decisions in a panel are not open to the public; provided, however, that the presence of legal apprentices may be permitted.

(2)Deliberations are opened and coordinated by the presiding judge. Except as otherwise provided for in this Act, strict secrecy must be observed with respect to the deliberation process, the opinions of each judge, and the number of opinions constituting the majority and the minority.

Article 76A judge must express an opinion in deliberations.

Article 77(1)Unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise concerning Supreme Court decisions, its decisions are based on the majority opinion.

(2)If a decision is to be based on the majority opinion, but there are three or more different opinions with respect to the following matters and none of them is in the majority, the decision is based on the opinions set forth below:

Article 78If a trial by a panel is expected to continue for a long time, one or more supplementary judges may attend the proceedings; and if one or more judges of the panel become unable to take part in the proceedings, the supplementary judge or judges may join the panel to conduct proceedings and reach judicial decisions in the place of the absent judge or judges, in the order determined in advance; provided, however, that the number of supplementary judges may not exceed the number of judges on the panel.

Article 79The courts provide one another with the necessary assistance in the handling of court functions.