There is a Supreme Court of Appeal for the whole of Belgium. This court lacks competency regarding matters of substance, save for the judgment of ministers and of members of Regional and Community Governments. 148 Court hearings are open, unless public access should jeopardize morals or order. In this case, the court so declares by ruling. Regarding political wrongdoings or those of the press, proceedings behind closed doors may be undertaken only on the basis of a unanimous vote.
All judgments are well-founded.
They are pronounced in open court. The jury is established for all criminal matters, in addition to issues of political and press wrongdoings. 151 Court magistrates and court judges are directly named by the King. Appeal judges and the presidents and vice-presidents of the high Courts of Justice to which they are attached are named by the King on two double lists. One is presented by the courts, the other by provincial councils and by the Brussels-Capital Regional Council, as the case may be.