Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights: A Practitioner’s Handbook then choose an ad hoc judge “from a list submitted in advance by the Contracting Party containing the names of three to five persons whom the Contracting Party has designated as eligible to serve as ad hoc judges for a renewable period of two years and as satisfying the conditions set out in paragraph 1 (c) of this Rule.”16 Judges also act as judge rapporteurs and, with the assistance of Registry lawyers, examine the applications introduced with the Court. The President of the Section to which the case has been assigned designates judge rapporteurs.17 The identity of a judge rapporteur in a particular case is never disclosed to the parties. 1.3.2 The Registry The Registry of the Court is staffed by lawyers (‘legal secretaries’), administrative and technical staff and translators. The task of the Registry is to provide legal and administrative support to the Court in the exercise of its judicial functions. Within the Registry there are 20 legal divisions. At the present, there are about 640 staff members, that are 270 lawyers and 370 support staff.18 All Registry lawyers are employees of the Council of Europe who have been recruited on the basis of open competitions and appointed by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Their knowledge of the national law and the language of the Contracting Party as well as their knowledge of the official languages of the Council of Europe, i.e. English and French, play a central role in their recruitment. Nevertheless, members of the Registry do not represent any State and they are expected to adhere to strict conditions of independence and impartiality. The Registry lawyers are responsible for preparing case files for examination by the Court. Their responsibilities therefore include handling all communication with the applicants relating to the complaints. Most of their time, however, is spent drafting the Court’s decisions and judgments under the instructions of the judge rapporteurs. Registry lawyers are also responsible for carrying out research – mostly relating to the domestic law of the Contracting Parties – on behalf of the judges and attending deliberations. At the Head of the Registry stands the Registrar of the Court who functions under the authority of the President of the Court. The Registrar is assisted by two Deputy Registrars. They are elected by the Plenary Court.19 16 17 18 19 24 Rule 29 of the Rules of Court. Rule 49 §§ 2 of the Rules of Court. For the organisation of the Registry see: http://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=court/howitworks (23 July 2014). Rules 15 and 16 of the Rules of Court.