07/12/2005
NEWS STORY
The FIA has announced several changes to its International Court of Appeal (ICA). This comes at a time when there is concern at the ICA's independence, and when the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association is citing the sport's governance and lack of transparency as the main stumbling block with regards the future of F1.
In a statement issued today - the same day that WilliamsF1 signs FOM's new Concorde Agreement, the FIA said:
"The inaugural Congress of the FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) will be held in Monaco on Friday, December 9. The Congress, consisting of all the Titular Members of the ICA, will meet at least once a year. The creation of the Congress is one of the innovations included in the new 'Rules of the FIA International Court of Appeal' agreed by the FIA General Assembly held in Rome on 28th October. The Rules include provisions concerning the missions, composition, administration and procedures of the ICA. Each year the Congress will review the functioning of the Court, and consider any proposed amendments to the Rules.
The adoption of the new Rules completes a major review and renewal of the proceedings of the ICA. In recent years the ICA hearings (for sporting cases) have been made open to the media, any barriers to challenging decisions of the ICA in the civil courts (where this is possible under national law) have been removed, the number of judges elected to the Court has been increased from 15 to 18, and the position of Secretary General has been made subject to election and, therefore, no longer part of the internal management of the FIA. With the new Rules now in place, the ICA procedures remain fully independent, transparent, fair, efficient, and an example of best practice in contemporary sports governance."
Senior lawyers from the United States and the United Kingdom are joining the membership of the FIA International Court of Appeal. The new Titular and Deputy Members are:
United States (nominated by the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States - ACCUS)
Titular Member: John J. Cassidy (partner Baker Botts L.L.P)
Deputy Member: Stephen L. Braga (partner Baker Botts L.L.P)
United Kingdom (nominated by the Motor Sports Association UK)
Titular Member: Anthony Scrivener QC (Bencher of Lincoln's Inn)
Deputy Member: Edwin Glasgow CBE, QC (Bencher of Gray's Inn)
Note: Mr Cassidy and Mr Braga were elected at this year's FIA General Assembly as the 18th Titular/Deputy Members arising from the recent enlargement of membership the ICA.
Mr Scrivener and Mr Glasgow will replace Mr Graham Stoker and his Deputy Mr Julian Hallam and will complete the remaining two year mandate of the UK Members. As required by Article 188 of the International Sporting Code, Mr Stoker stood down from the ICA following his election to the World Motor Sport Council.