Article 55
1. If a judge is a national of any of the States Parties to a case submitted to the Court, he
shall retain his right to hear that case.
2. If one of the judges called upon to hear a case should be a national of one of the States
Parties to the case, any other State Party in the case may appoint a person of its choice to
serve on the Court as an ad hoc judge.
3. If among the judges called upon to hear a case none is a national of any of the States
Parties to the case, each of the latter may appoint an ad hoc judge.
4. An ad hoc judge shall possess the qualifications indicated in Article 52.
5. If several States Parties to the Convention should have the same interest in a case, they
shall be considered as a single party for purposes of the above provisions. In case of doubt,
the Court shall decide.
Article 56
Five judges shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Court.
Article 57
The Commission shall appear in all cases before the Court.
Article 58
1. The Court shall have its seat at the place determined by the States Parties to the
Convention in the General Assembly of the Organization; however, it may convene in the
territory of any member state of the Organization of American States when a majority of the
Court considers it desirable, and with the prior consent of the state concerned. The seat of the
Court may be changed by the States Parties to the Convention in the General Assembly by a
two-thirds vote.
2. The Court shall appoint its own Secretary.
3. The Secretary shall have his office at the place where the Court has its seat and shall
attend the meetings that the Court may hold away from its seat.
Article 59
The Court shall establish its Secretariat, which shall function under the direction of the
Secretary of the Court, in accordance with the administrative standards of the General
Secretariat of the Organization in all respects not incompatible with the independence of the
Court. The staff of the Court's Secretariat shall be appointed by the Secretary General of the
Organization, in consultation with the Secretary of the Court.
Article 60
The Court shall draw up its Statute which it shall submit to the General Assembly for
approval. It shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.