1 Independence, Impartiality, and Qualifications of the Court and Its Judges

The court and the judges should have judicial independence to decide the dispute according to the facts and the law, including freedom from improper internal and external influence.

Judges should have reasonable tenure in office. Nonprofessional members of the court should be designated by a procedure assuring their independence from the parties, the dispute, and other persons interested in the resolution.

The court should be impartial. A judge or other person having decisional authority must not participate if there is reasonable ground to doubt such person's impartiality. There should be a fair and effective procedure for addressing contentions of judicial bias.

Neither the court nor the judge should accept communications about the case from a party in the absence of other parties, except for communications concern ing proceedings without notice and for routine procedural administration. When communication between the court and a party occurs in the absence of another party, that party should be promptly advised of the content of the communication.

The court should have substantial legal knowledge and experience.